ULAN BATOR — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Mongolian counterpart Jargaltulga Erdenebat exchanged notes on measures to intensify the two countries’ relations, especially in economic and trade co-operation, at their talks in Ulan Bator yesterday. 

Phúc, who is in Ulan Bator for an official visit and to attend the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit, congratulated the Mongolian Government and people on their achievements during their nation-building process. 
Việt Nam treasured and wished to strengthen its multi-faceted co-operation with Mongolia, he affirmed, believing that the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit would be a success under Mongolia’s chair. 
Both PMs agreed to continue promoting political trust and mutual understanding through delegation exchanges, while stepping up co-operation in security and defence. 
They reached a consensus on speeding up the signing of co-operation agreements and increasing the efficiency and role of the Việt Nam-Mongolia Inter-Governmental Committee. 
They also discussed measures to facilitate goods transportation between the two countries in order to raise their trade turnover, and to soon achieve mutual recognition of hygiene quarantine standards on Việt Nam’s farm produce and Mongolia’s meat products. 
The two PMs agreed to expand co-operation in potential fields like agriculture, mining, light industry and pharmaceuticals. 
Việt Nam asked Mongolia to receive more Vietnamese workers and create favourable conditions for their enterprises to intensify trade exchange, while Mongolia welcomed Vietnamese businesses to invest in oil exploitation and mining in the country. 
The two sides affirmed the need to boost people-to-people diplomacy as well as co-operation in culture, sports and education, and support the Vietnamese community in Mongolia and the Mongolian community in Việt Nam. 
Both PMs expressed satisfaction at the close co-ordination between the two nations at regional and international forums, such as the ASEM, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. 
They discussed issues of mutual concerns, including the East Sea. The Vietnamese PM took the occasion to invite PM Erdenebat to visit Việt Nam. The latter accepted the invitation. After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a co-operation agreement between the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mongolian Employers’ United Association, and held a joint press conference.

Meeting the Mongolian President

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Phúc had a meeting with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, during which the host affirmed that Mongolia always attached much importance to developing ties with Việt Nam. 
Mongolia highly valued Việt Nam’s position and role in the region, said the President, who held that Việt Nam’s success in its national construction and development had enhanced the country’s prestige in the world arena. 
Phúc lauded Mongolia’s economic achievements over the past years, declaring that Việt Nam saw Mongolia as an important partner in the region. 
He expressed hope that the traditional ties between the two countries would grow effectively in the future, meeting the expectations of their people and contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world. 
The Government leader said he believed Mongolia would successfully organise the upcoming 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit. 
Reviewing recent progress in bilateral relations recently, both sides vowed to further boost their co-operation in all fields. 
The two leaders agreed to maintain high-level exchanges as well as boost co-ordination between ministries, sectors and localities, especially in the organisation of the 16th meeting of the Việt Nam-Mongolia Inter-Governmental Committee on economy, trade, science and technology in September this year. 
They concurred that ministries and sectors of both sides should work harder together to seek measures to bolster bilateral trade. Việt Nam will import quarantined processed meat from Mongolia, while Mongolia will buy Việt Nam’s agriculture and electronic products. 
The leaders also pledged to create a favourable environment for businesses of both sides to increase their partnerships, while strengthening people-to-people contacts, especially among the youth, and so introducing each other’s traditional culture and fostering bilateral ties. 
The two sides also discussed the regional and world situation as well as matters of shared concern, including the East Sea issue. They agreed to co-operate with and support each other at international and regional forums. — VNS