President, PM receive Mongolia House speaker

HA NOI — Viet Nam and Mongolia should make full use of their potential and advantages to strengthen their bilateral traditional relationship, President Nguyen Minh Triet told visiting Mongolian parliament speaker Demberel Damdin.

During a reception yesterday, Triet stressed that Viet Nam was prepared to help Mongolia expand her co-operation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In that spirit, the president suggested that ministries and sectors from both sides enhance exchanges of specific measures to boost co-operation, particularly in trade and mineral exploitation.

Damdin said that Mongolia highly regarded the role and position of Viet Nam in Southeast Asia, and his country looked forward to further expanding the traditional friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with Viet Nam.

Damdin added that improved co-operation with Viet Nam, stipulated through Mongolia's foreign policy, would help Mongolia strengthen relationships with other ASEAN member countries.

He stressed that with Mongolia's experience and large mineral reserves, the country was always willing to co-operate with Viet Nam in mining activities.

PM reception

In a separate meeting with Damdin yesterday morning, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said he highly appreciated Mongolia's wish to further enhance co-operation between the two countries.

"Viet Nam and Mongolia should increase mutual support in international and multilateral forums, exchange of visits by high-profile officials, and mutual understanding to boost commercial co-operation," Dung said.

"That bilateral trade only totals US$10 million is disappointing, and fails to match the potential of each side, which needs to be raised in the coming time."

Apart from trade, Viet Nam wants to co-operate with Mongolia in education and training, defence and security, Dung said.

He recommended that the Viet Nam-Mongolia Inter-Governmental Committee continue studying, negotiating, and realising the co-operation between the two countries so as the relationship could further develop.

The two leaders also shared their view on potential future co-operation, especially in agriculture and fisheries.

Damdin said Mongolia always considered Viet Nam as a good friend and a bridge to help Mongolia expand co-operation with Southeast Asian nations in economics, trade and culture.

Mongolia wanted to develop new areas of co-operation with Viet Nam, Damdin said. — VNS