Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Mongolia on December 9 agreed on specific measures and orientationsto consolidate and enhance their traditional friendship and cooperation in thetime ahead.

During the ninth politicalconsultation between the two foreign ministries that was held online, the sidesexchanged views on regional and international situation, the COVID-19 pandemic,and other issues of mutual concern.

In the political sphere,they affirmed a hope for stronger bilateral cooperation, contributing tomaintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and theworld at large.

Vietnamese DeputyMinister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam always treasuresMongolia’s sentiments and valuable support during the past struggle fornational independence, as well as the present cause of national constructionand development.

The two sides alsoconsented to maintain all-level meetings and delegation exchanges during andafter COVID-19, and facilitate result-oriented collaboration in such realms asdiplomacy, security, national defence, economy, culture, education andpeople-to-people exchange with flexible forms.

Vietnam and Mongoliawill work together to accelerate the signing of agreements in economy, tradeand investment, firstly the one regarding procedures for imports.

They pledged tocreate optimal conditions for their enterprises to study the respective marketsand seek cooperation opportunities in the areas of oil and gas exploration, mining,garment-textile, and footwear.

The Mongolian side saidit regards Vietnam as a key market helping the former diversify itsexport-import markets.

Mongolian Deputy Ministerfor Foreign Affairs Munkhjin Batsumber,who co-chaired the meeting, congratulated Vietnam on achievements the countryhas recorded in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, saying Mongolia would like tolearn from Vietnam’s experience and orientations in COVID-19 vaccine study andproduction.

Bothsides emphasised the need to address differences in the East Sea by peacefulmeasures, through dialogues and in line with international law, including the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), neither use force nor threaten to use force, and not to take actions that would complicatethe situation.

Vietnampledged to help Mongolia strengthen exchange and cooperation with ASEAN, andother cooperation mechanisms and frameworks.

Theofficials agreed to enhance exchanges, cooperation and coordination, bothbilaterally and multilaterally, and further optimise the political consultationmechanism at the deputy foreign ministerial level./.