The top legislators of Vietnam and Mongolia held talks in Hanoi on January 22^nd following a grand welcome ceremony for Miyegombo Enkhbold and a high-level delegation of the Mongolian parliament, who are in Hanoi for an official visit from January 20^th-23^rd.

The two legislative leaders stressed the need to maintain mutual visits and meetings between the two countries’ senior leaders, saying that these activities are necessary to define major directions for pushing forward the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and her Mongolian counterpart Miyegombo Enkhbold. (Source: VNA)

The two sides pledged to effectively implement agreements signed in the fields of diplomacy and security-defence; increase dialogues, information and experience sharing at all levels; join hands in fighting crimes; enhance partnership in defence industry, logistics and military medicine; and accelerate negotiations of agreements on criminal extradition and the transfer of convicted persons.

Speaking highly of Mongolia’s decision to allow Vietnamese officers to participate in the Khaan Quest' international peacekeeping exercise, NA Chairwoman Ngan affirmed Vietnam is willing to continue sending officers to the exercise while receiving Mongolian officers to Vietnam for learning Vietnamese language.

She suggested the two sides maintain political consultation meetings between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs in 2018.

The two legislators agreed that Vietnam and Mongolia should bolster their economic and trade connection. They pledged to urge their ministries, sectors and localities to implement agreements and common perception reached by the two countries’ leaders, and outcomes of the 16th session of their inter-governmental committee.

The two sides will encourage and make it easier for their enterprises and investors to invest and do business in each other’s markets.

The chairman of the Mongolian parliament said the two sides need to enhance export to each other’s markets, as well as promoting bonds in education, tourism, health care, and people-to-people exchange.

Mongolia wishes to learn from Vietnam’s experience in investment attraction policy, export, climate change adaptation, and traditional medicine, he said, adding that the two counties should consider setting up connection in customs and inspection.

NA Chairwoman Ngan affirmed Vietnam is willing to share experience in building and joining free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and asked the Mongolian side to consider receiving Vietnamese labourers to work in Mongolia.

She stated that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing win-win cooperation with Mongolia, and that the country will continue to support Mongolia to become a member of the APEC, as well as will serve as a bridge to promote connection between Mongolia and other ASEAN member nations.

Discussing regional and international issues of common concern, the two parliamentary leaders agreed that the two sides will effectively coordinate at multilateral forums, and work closer to supervise the implementation of agreements signed by the two Governments, and ministries and sectors of the two countries.

The Mongolian guest said Vietnam is an important partner of his country in Southeast Asia, noting that Mongolia backs Vietnam's candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council in the 2020-2021 term.

He also said his country supports the resettlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures, in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982.

After the talks, the two parliamentary leaders signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two legislatures. They also witnessed the signing of an MoU on cooperation between Vietnam’s Hoa Binh province and TUV province of Mongolia./.

VNF/VNA