Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) receives Mongolian Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh Orgil in Hà Nội yesterday.– VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam wants to reinforce traditional ties with Mongolia – an important partner in its external policy, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc told Mongolian Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh Orgil during a reception in Hà Nội yesterday.

The PM suggested the two countries continue high-level visits and exchanges as well as further extend ties across diplomacy, national defence and security.

While lauding effective cooperation between the countries’ inter-governmental committees, PM Phúc asked for increased collaboration in agro-fisheries to lift two-way trade. Similarly, Việt Nam and Mongolia need to work together on culture, education and tourism, he said.

The government leader hoped that both countries would offer further support at regional and global forums, adding that Việt Nam asks Mongolia to support the country and ASEAN’s stance on the maintenance of peace and stability, and guarantee of security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, full respect to diplomatic and legal processes, and settlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Orgil, for his part, emphasised that Mongolia attached special importance to developing ties with Asian-Pacific countries, including Việt Nam.

Informing the host of the outcomes of his talks with Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh, he said both sides pledged to push forward with wide-ranging ties, and the two nations’ inter-governmental committees were working to further improve the efficiency of their partnership.

He expressed his belief that Việt Nam would successfully host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2017.

He affirmed Mongolia’s willingness to cooperate with Việt Nam in fields of its strength such as apparel, leather and footwear, and wanted Việt Nam to share its experience and boost links across culture, education and the arts.

According to him, the two sides should boost people-to-people exchange to foster traditional friendship between the two peoples. — VNS