Vietnam and Mongolia are looking forward to celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations (November 17, 1954 - November 17, 2024). The two countries will upgrade their bilateral relations to a new level. This is one of the important contents in the exchange between VOV's correspondent in China and Mongolia with Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Mongolia Nguyen Tuan Thanh.

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Nguyen Tuan Thanh. Photo: Bich Thuan

Reporter: Could you please tell us what remarkable achievements the relationship between Vietnam and Mongolia has achieved after 70 years of establishing diplomatic relations?

Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Thanh: Vietnam and Mongolia officially established diplomatic relations on November 17, 1954. Mongolia was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam and Vietnam was the first country in Southeast Asia with which Mongolia established diplomatic relations. Over the past 70 years, the traditional friendship between the two countries has continuously developed and achieved outstanding achievements in many fields.

Firstly, political, diplomatic, security and defense relations have developed positively, the two countries have achieved high political understanding and trust and given priority to developing relations. The two sides have regularly promoted high-level and all-level visits, most notably the visit to Mongolia by President Ho Chi Minh (September 1955) and the visit to Vietnam by the First Secretary of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and Chairman of the Council of Ministers (September 1959), which laid a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations. The two sides have signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation three times (1961, 1979, 2000) and given each other selfless and transparent assistance. In particular, the Mongolian Government and people have given Vietnam both material and spiritual support and assistance in the struggle for national liberation and reunification. Currently, the two countries are aiming to organize activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and to upgrade bilateral relations to a new level. Regarding security and defense: The two sides identified this as the most important pillar in the relationship between the two countries. The two sides have regularly exchanged delegations at all levels, signed many documents regulating the framework of cooperation between the two sides such as criminal extradition, immigration management, sending UN peacekeeping forces, military medicine, military technology, defense industry, etc. Mongolia helped Vietnam build a Mobile Cavalry Police Regiment. Second, the two sides have established close and effective cooperation mechanisms in many fields, creating a legal framework for cooperation activities, specifically: - The two countries have established the Vietnam - Mongolia Intergovernmental Committee mechanism and have held 18 meetings since 1979 (the 19th meeting will take place at the end of this year, in Vietnam), proposing many directions and measures to promote cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture, education, science, technology, etc. Accordingly, the two sides have signed a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding to create a legal framework for cooperation activities. Most recently, there is the Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Trade Cooperation in 2021, the Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation in 2022, the Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Rice Trade Cooperation in 2023... In particular, during the visit of the President of Mongolia to Vietnam in 2023, the two countries signed an Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic, Official and Ordinary Passports, facilitating travel and trade between the people of the two countries. - The two countries have a political consultation mechanism at the Deputy Foreign Minister level and have held 10 rounds of meetings (the 11th round of meetings will take place in Mongolia in 2024). Through this, the two sides have shared experiences, strengthened and consolidated trust, understanding and confidence in each other. The two sides also closely coordinated their views and positions in regional and international forums on issues of mutual concern and shared interests. Third, economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries has been strongly promoted, creating certain impressions. Trade promotion and business connection activities are regularly organized in various forms, creating conditions for businesses of both sides to expand relations and seek cooperation and investment opportunities. Bilateral trade turnover has increased 2.3 times in the past time from 41.4 million USD in 2017 to 85 million USD in 2022 and reaching 132 million USD in 2023. In 2023, the two countries officially opened a direct flight route between Hanoi and Ulaanbaatar. Currently deployed to Ho Chi Minh City and soon to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. The two countries have agreed on animal quarantine samples and allowed the import of lamb and goat meat from Mongolia to Vietnam and poultry meat and egg products from Vietnam to Mongolia. This is the result of long-term negotiation efforts between the two sides. Fourth, the cultural and educational cooperation has developed strongly and positively. In particular, since 1980, Mongolia has decided to name school No. 14 in the capital Ulaanbaatar after President Ho Chi Minh. The school is a symbol of cooperation between the two countries, regularly holding cultural activities on major holidays in Vietnam such as: painting contests about Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, performing arts, especially songs praising President Ho Chi Minh in Vietnamese. In addition, many works about the country, people of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh have been translated into Mongolian such as: "Prison Diary", "The Life and Career of President Ho Chi Minh", "The Tale of Kieu", "Hon Dat"... The two sides also regularly carry out activities such as cultural weeks or days in each country, sending art troupes to perform to introduce and promote the culture, country and people of Vietnam and Mongolia. Regarding education and training: The two sides have carried out student exchanges since the 1960s. Every year, Vietnam gives Mongolia 15 scholarships, Mongolia gives Vietnam 5 scholarships under the Government Cooperation Agreement on Education. Currently, the two sides are considering expanding government scholarships in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the two countries. Fifth, people-to-people exchange and cooperation between localities are constantly developing: The Vietnam - Mongolia and Mongolia - Vietnam Friendship Associations are very active, transmitting enthusiasm to future generations of the two countries; cooperation between localities is promoted with Hanoi and the capital Ulaanbaatar, Hoa Binh province with Tuv province, Dak Lak province with Orkhon province and a number of other district-level relations.

Friendship corner between the two countries at the Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia. Photo provided by the Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia

Reporter: How does the Ambassador assess the potential for cooperation between the two sides? Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Thanh: In the coming time, the two sides need to focus on promoting the implementation of existing cooperation frameworks, especially in the fields of economics, trade and investment. The economic strengths of Vietnam and Mongolia are not competitive but complementary. In recent years, economic cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia has had positive developments, but is still not commensurate with the long history of relations and the potential for cooperation between the two countries. Bilateral trade turnover has doubled or tripled in recent years, but is still very modest. Mongolia has the strength of rich mineral reserves, which will be a potential area for stronger cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of mining, rare earths, important materials in the production of electric vehicle batteries, green economy, combating climate change and minimizing environmental pollution. At the same time, with nearly 70 million heads of livestock, the processing of meat, milk and animal feed products is also a potential area of ​​cooperation between the two sides. Vietnam, with a market of more than 100 million people, is in the golden population period and the middle class is growing rapidly. From Vietnam, Mongolian businesses will have the opportunity to access the ASEAN market as well as the large market in the world because Vietnam has signed 16 free trade agreements with countries and regions. Tourism is a field with great potential for development, due to the differences in climate and geography, the two countries have attractive tourism products for each other's tourists; the two countries have exempted visas for tourists and opened direct flights, which will create favorable conditions for exploiting and developing tourism in the coming time. In addition, the two countries have a lot of potential and advantages for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, education and training, telecommunications, information technology, digital transformation, oil and gas exploration and exploitation as well as clean energy fields such as wind power and solar power.

A high-ranking delegation from Ho Chi Minh City led by Mr. Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member and Secretary of the City Party Committee, laid flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Monument at School 14. Photo provided by the Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia

Reporter: So what is the focus of cooperation between the two countries in the coming time? Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Thanh: Firstly, in terms of politics, the two sides need to continue to maintain exchanges of high-level delegations and all levels to enhance political trust, share experiences, closely coordinate and actively support each other in regional and international forums. The two sides need to well organize activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024, soon upgrade bilateral relations, and create new momentum for cooperation and development between the two sides. Secondly, continue to promote substantive cooperation in the fields of economics, trade and investment and consider this a focus in bilateral cooperation in the coming time. Regarding trade cooperation, the import and export structure of the two countries is not competitive or conflicting but complementary to each other's markets. The two sides need to continue promoting bilateral import and export of goods, opening up each other's goods on the basis of reciprocity, meeting the standards and needs of each side; creating conditions for Vietnam's strengths in agricultural, aquatic, seafood and pharmaceutical products to enter the Mongolian market; minerals, coal, wool and leather to enter the Vietnamese market, promoting the goal of doubling bilateral trade turnover in the coming time. Regarding investment cooperation, the two sides need to strengthen investment promotion activities; promote cooperation in diversifying the supply chain of raw materials, especially in industries where both sides have strengths; support businesses in the process of researching and implementing investment activities in each country. Vietnamese businesses need to consider investing in Mongolia in areas where you have strengths such as mining, animal feed production and processing, meat, milk and leather products, etc. to sell in the Mongolian market and export to surrounding countries. Regarding transportation, the opening of direct flights between Vietnam and Mongolia in recent times has made an important contribution to promoting trade cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. The two sides need to continue to find fundamental and long-term solutions to remove difficulties in the fields of rail, sea and air transport to reduce costs and time for transporting goods between the two countries. Regarding labor, with the characteristics of a large land area and sparse population, Mongolia is currently lacking in human resources such as skilled workers, technicians and unskilled workers to work in the fields of infrastructure construction, food processing and especially in the mining sector. Therefore, the two sides need to continue to consider creating conditions for bringing Vietnamese workers into this potential market. Regarding tourism, it is necessary to continue to promote tourism in each country, diversify tourism products and services to attract tourists and reduce costs. Reporter: It is known that the Vietnamese community in Mongolia, although not large, has made a significant contribution to the local economic development and always looks towards the Fatherland. How does the Ambassador assess this? Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Thanh: The Vietnamese community in Mongolia (NVNOMC) is mainly freelance workers who come to work at auto repair shops invested by Vietnamese employers. With the advantages of being skillful and well-trained, Vietnamese workers are highly trusted in Mongolia. The source of foreign exchange transferred back to the country by Vietnamese enterprises and workers in Mongolia, although not large, is relatively stable. The NVNOMC community always has a good political attitude, highly trusts the Party's policies and guidelines, complies with local laws; always cares about and looks towards the homeland and country and has a spirit of great national unity. Currently, in Mongolia, there are 02 associations: the Association of Vietnamese in Mongolia (established on August 29, 2010) and the Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in Mongolia (established on March 1, 2023). In the past time, associations in Mongolia have actively participated in activities organized by the Embassy; carried out many practical and effective activities towards the homeland and the country such as actively donating and supporting programs and campaigns organized by domestic agencies, departments, branches and localities. With solidarity and constant efforts, striving, and compliance with the direction and guidance of the Embassy, ​​the Vietnamese community in Mongolia will continue to be one of the resources contributing positively to the development of the country. Reporter: Thank you!