President of Mongolia U.Khurelsukh and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong held official talks on 2 November 2023.

During the official talks, which were held in a friendly and warm atmosphere, the two sides exchanged views on Mongolia-Vietnam relations and cooperation in various fields, including politics, defense, transportation, logistics, agriculture, education, culture, and tourism, as well as bilateral cooperation on regional and international issues. Mongolian President U.Khurelsukh thanked the Vietnamese state, government, and people for their warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Mongolian delegation.

Highlighting the historical roots of the traditional friendship between Mongolia and Vietnam, President U.Khurelsukh expressed his commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation with tangible economic substance. Both leaders emphasized that the Mongolian President’s State Visit to Vietnam is pivotal for strengthening people-to-people ties, setting the direction for future cooperation, and determining the prospects for fostering traditional friendly relations.

Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong thanked President U. Khurelsukh for the invitation to pay a State Visit to Mongolia in 2024, coinciding with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. In connection with this anniversary, the Presidents agreed to host joint cultural events and actively work towards upgrading the traditional friendly relations to a “Comprehensive Partnership”.

To deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade and economy, both sides agreed to expand air transport, develop passenger, and freight transport through direct flights, foster tourism cooperation, and increase people-to-people exchanges. The recently signed “Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Exemption from Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic, Official, and Ordinary Passports” was highlighted for its role in boosting the two-way traffic of citizens and promoting tourism development.

Both parties noted that agricultural and light industry products constitute a significant portion of the trade turnover between the two countries. They emphasized the importance of the “Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Rice Trading” in improving the quality of rice imported from Vietnam to Mongolia. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of the Model International Veterinary Certificate for the Export of Sheep and Goat Meat from Mongolia to Vietnam in expanding food, agriculture, trade, and economic cooperation.

Emphasizing the importance of ties between entrepreneurs, entities, and small and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries, the leaders commended the organization of the Mongolian-Vietnamese Business Forum in Hanoi city. They also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in mining, energy, railway, and maritime sectors, with a focus on exploring the export of Mongolian coking and thermal coal and other mining products to Vietnam.

President U.Khurelsukh introduced Mongolia’s national campaigns “One Billion Trees” and “Food Supply and Security,” aimed at mitigating climate change impacts and ensuring global food security. The leaders pledged to explore opportunities for cooperation in this area.

Both Presidents affirmed active cooperation within the United Nations, ASEAN, and other international organizations. President Vo Van Thuong reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to supporting Mongolia’s bid to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Following the official talks, Mongolia and Vietnam issued a Joint Statement and signed several cooperation documents to strengthen the legal basis between the two countries.