Vietnam and Mongolia will upgrade bilateral relations.

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

Interviewer: Ambassador, could you please tell us what notable achievements have been made in the relationship between Vietnam and Mongolia 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 a high level of political understanding and trust, and prioritized the development of these relations. Both sides have regularly promoted high-level and other visits, most notably President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Mongolia (September 1955) and the visit of the First Secretary of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Mongolia to Vietnam (September 1959), which laid a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations. The two sides have signed three Treaties of Friendship and Cooperation (1961, 1979, 2000) and provided each other with selfless and sincere assistance. In particular, the Government and people of Mongolia have given Vietnam unwavering support, both material and spiritual, in its struggle for national liberation and reunification. Currently, the two countries are working towards organizing activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and upgrading bilateral relations to a new level. Regarding security and defense: Both sides have identified this as a top priority pillar in their relationship. They have regularly exchanged delegations at all levels and signed numerous documents outlining the framework for cooperation between the two sides, such as extradition of criminals, immigration management, deployment of UN peacekeeping forces, military medicine, military technology, and defense industry. Mongolia is assisting Vietnam in establishing a mobile mounted police regiment. Secondly, the two sides have established close and effective cooperation mechanisms in many fields, creating a legal framework for cooperative activities, specifically: - The two countries have established the Vietnam-Mongolia Intergovernmental Committee and have held 18 sessions from 1979 to the present (the 19th session will take place at the end of this year in Vietnam), outlining many directions and measures to promote cooperative relations in the fields of economics, trade, culture, education, science, technology, etc. Accordingly, the two sides have signed a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding, creating a legal framework for cooperative activities. Most recently, there is the Memorandum of Cooperation on Economy and Trade in 2021, the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of agriculture in 2022, and the Memorandum of Cooperation on sustainable rice trade in 2023… Particularly 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 passports, official passports, 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 will take place in Mongolia in 2024). Through these meetings, both sides have shared experiences, strengthened and consolidated trust, understanding, and confidence in each other. Both sides also closely coordinate their views and positions in regional and international forums on issues of mutual interest and shared benefits. Thirdly, economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries has been strongly promoted, creating certain notable achievements. Trade promotion and business networking activities are organized regularly in various forms, creating conditions for businesses from both sides to expand relations and seek cooperation and investment opportunities. Bilateral trade turnover has increased 2.3 times in recent years, from US$41.4 million in 2017 to US$85 million in 2022 and reaching US$132 million in 2023. In 2023, the two countries officially opened a direct flight route between Hanoi and Ulaanbaatar. This is currently being implemented to Ho Chi Minh City and will soon extend to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. The two countries have agreed on animal quarantine standards and allowed the import of lamb and goat meat from Mongolia into Vietnam, and poultry meat and egg products from Vietnam into Mongolia. This is the result of long-term negotiations between the two sides. Fourthly, cooperation in culture and education 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 hosting cultural activities on major Vietnamese holidays such as: painting competitions about Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, artistic performances, especially songs praising President Ho Chi Minh in Vietnamese. In addition, many works about Vietnam, its people, 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," and "Hon Dat"... Both sides also regularly implement activities such as cultural weeks or days in each country, sending art troupes to perform in order to introduce and promote the culture, country, and people of Vietnam and Mongolia. Regarding education and training: The two sides have been exchanging students since the 1960s. Every year, Vietnam provides Mongolia with 15 scholarships, and Mongolia provides Vietnam with 5 scholarships under the Government Agreement on Education Cooperation. Currently, both sides are considering expanding government scholarships to suit the needs and aspirations of both countries. Fifthly, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities have continuously developed: the Vietnam-Mongolia and Mongolia-Vietnam Friendship Associations are very active, inspiring enthusiasm in future generations of both countries; cooperation between localities has been promoted with Hanoi and Ulaanbaatar, Hoa Binh province with Tuv province, Dak Lak province with Orkhon province, and several other district-level relations.

A corner of friendship between the two countries at the Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia. Photo provided by the Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia.

Interviewer: How does the Ambassador assess the potential for cooperation between the two sides? Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Thanh: In the coming time, both sides need to focus on strengthening 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 seen positive developments, however, it 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 it remains very modest. Mongolia has the strength of abundant mineral reserves, which will be a potential area for stronger cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of mining, rare earth elements (important raw materials in the production of electric vehicle batteries), green economy, combating climate change, and reducing environmental pollution. At the same time, with nearly 70 million head of livestock, the processing of meat, dairy products, and animal feed is also a potential area of ​​cooperation between the two sides. Vietnam, with a market of over 100 million people, is currently experiencing a demographic dividend and a rapidly growing middle class. From Vietnam, Mongolian businesses will have the opportunity to access the ASEAN market as well as the vast global market, as Vietnam has signed 16 free trade agreements with various countries and regions. Tourism is a sector with great potential for development, due to differences in climate and geography, the two countries have attractive tourism products for each other; the visa exemption for tourists and the opening of direct flights will create favorable conditions for exploiting and developing tourism in the future. Furthermore, the two countries have great 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 sectors such as wind and solar power.

A high-level delegation from Ho Chi Minh City, led by Mr. Nguyen Van Nen, Member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the City Party Committee, laid wreaths at the Ho Chi Minh Monument at School No. 14. Photo provided by the Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia.

Interviewer: So, what will be the focus of cooperation between the two countries in the coming period? Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Thanh: Firstly, politically, both sides need to continue maintaining exchanges of high-level and other delegations to strengthen political trust, share experiences, coordinate closely, and actively support each other in regional and international forums. Both sides need to organize well the activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2024, and soon upgrade bilateral relations, creating new momentum for cooperation and development between the two sides. Secondly, we need to continue promoting substantive cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, and investment, considering this as the focus of bilateral cooperation in the coming period. Regarding trade cooperation, the structure of import and export goods between the two countries should not be competitive or conflicting, but rather complementary to each other's markets. Both sides need to continue promoting bilateral import and export of goods, opening up to each other's goods on a reciprocal basis, meeting the standards and needs of each side; Facilitating the entry of Vietnam's key agricultural, aquatic, and pharmaceutical products into the Mongolian market; and mineral products, coal, wool, and felt into the Vietnamese market, will promote the goal of doubling bilateral trade turnover in the near future. Regarding investment cooperation, both sides need to strengthen investment promotion activities; promote cooperation in diversifying raw material supply chains, especially in sectors where both sides have strengths; and support businesses in the process of researching and implementing investment activities in each country. Vietnamese businesses should consider investing in Mongolia in areas where Mongolia has strengths, such as mining, animal feed production and processing, and the production and processing of meat, dairy, and leather products for sale in the Mongolian market and export to surrounding countries. Regarding transportation, the opening of direct flights between Vietnam and Mongolia in recent years has significantly contributed to promoting trade, tourism , and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Both sides need to continue finding fundamental, long-term solutions to overcome difficulties in the fields of rail, sea, and air transport to minimize costs and time for transporting goods between the two countries. Regarding labor, with its large land area and sparse population, Mongolia currently lacks skilled, technical, and unskilled labor for work in infrastructure construction, food processing, and especially mining. Therefore, both sides need to continue considering creating conditions to bring Vietnamese workers into this potential market. Regarding tourism, it is necessary to continue promoting tourism in each country, diversifying tourism products and services to attract more tourists and reduce costs. Interviewer: It is known that the Vietnamese community in Mongolia, although not large, has made significant contributions to local economic development and always looks towards their homeland. How does the Ambassador assess this? Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Thanh: The Vietnamese community in Mongolia (NVNOMC) mainly consists of freelance workers employed in automobile repair shops invested in by Vietnamese owners. With their skillful hands and vocational training, Vietnamese workers are highly respected in Mongolia. While the amount of foreign exchange transferred back to Vietnam by Vietnamese businesses and workers in Mongolia is not large, it is relatively stable. The NVNOMC community consistently maintains a positive political stance, has high confidence in the Party's policies and guidelines, abides by local laws, and always cares about and looks towards their homeland, demonstrating a spirit of national unity. Currently, there are two Vietnamese associations in Mongolia: the Association of Vietnamese People in Mongolia (established on August 29, 2010) and the Association of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in Mongolia (established on March 1, 2023). Over the past period, these associations in Mongolia have actively participated in activities organized by the Embassy. They carry out many practical and effective activities directed towards their homeland, such as actively donating and supporting programs and campaigns organized by agencies, departments, and localities nationwide. With unity and continuous effort, and adhering to the 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. Interviewer: Thank you, sir!