Vietnam, Mongolia working to strengthen relations

Just one year after the establishment of the diplomatic relations, President Ho Chi Minh made his first visit to Mongolia in July 1955, part of his first overseas trip following the restoration of peace in North Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s visit and the subsequent Vietnam visit by Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal, First Secretary of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, in September 1959, were of great significance to the two peoples, laying the foundation for their traditional friendship.

On their path of national construction and development, the two countries have closely collaborated in many areas, offering each other wholehearted and selfless support.

The two countries’ high-ranking leaders have maintained regular mutual visits, contributing to consolidating political trust and enhancing the bilateral ties.

Vietnam and Mongolia have also maintained the political consultation mechanism at the deputy foreign minister level established in 2002, and the intergovernmental committee on economic-trade and scientific-technical cooperation.

They have cooperated closely and supported each other at regional and multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and other regional organisations. This relationship is driven by their shared interests in peace, development, and stability.

The year 2024 marks a milestone in the relationship with the state visit to Mongolia by Party General Secretary and President To Lam (now Party General Secretary To Lam) on September 30 and October 1. This visit, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, opened a new chapter in the traditional friendship.

During this visit, the high-ranking leaders of the two countries agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership and continue to expand collaboration.

On this occasion, the leaders witnessed the signing of seven cooperation agreements between various ministries, agencies, and localities.

The economic, trade, and investment cooperation has made progress, with the two-way trade turnover increasing to 132 million USD in 2023 from only 41.4 million USD in 2017 and 85 million USD in 2022. In the first seven months of 2024, it reached 65.5 million USD. The two countries aim to raise the bilateral trade value to 200 million USD in the near future.

According to experts, the relationship has been growing and ample room remains for the two sides to expand their cooperation, especially in economy, trade, and agriculture. In the economic sphere, they should focus on areas of strength such as mining, steel production, and the import and export of agricultural products, processed foods, and livestock products.

Agriculture is also a promising area for cooperation, experts said, suggesting the two countries exchange technology, experience, and products in this field.

The two sides have signed a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to establish a legal framework for cooperation activities, including the MoU on economic and trade cooperation in 2021, one on agricultural cooperation in 2022, and another on sustainable rice trade cooperation in 2023.

Notably, during the Vietnam visit by Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh last year, the two countries inked an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official, and ordinary passports, facilitating travel and trade between the two countries’ people.

Strides have also been seen in collaboration in culture, tourism, education and people-to-people exchange.