General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President To Lam and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh today [September 30] witnessed the signing of seven agreements between ministries and agencies of the two countries.

Visiting General Secretary and State President To Lam (L) and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in Ulaanbaatar on September 30. Photo: VNA

The seven cooperative agreements were inked to strengthen mutual efforts in on policy making, transport development and management, culture and tourism, cybersecurity and crime fighting, Hanoi-Ulaanbaatar friendly relations, science and technology, and university education.

The signing ceremony was held after the two national leaders’ talks in Ulaanbaatar as part of a two-day State visit made by General Secretary Lam and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to Mongolia at the invitation of the President Ukhnaagiin.

General Secretary Lam’s visit to Mongolia aims to reaffirm Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of international relations, and extensive, intensive and comprehensive international integration.

The trip also underscores Vietnam's traditional friendship with Mongolia, and demonstrates the country's policy to enhance bilateral ties in a more substantive manner.

70 years of Vietnam-Mongolia diplomatic relations

The state visit to Mongolia is of particular significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (November 17, 1954 – November 17, 2024).

Mongolia was one of the earliest countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnam was the first country in Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic ties with Mongolia.

In 1959, Mongolia opened a permanent representative office in Hanoi. A year later, Vietnam opened its office in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

In 1961, the two nations signed their first Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, establishing the Vietnam-Mongolia Friendship Association.

In 1979, both sides established the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation.

In 1996, the two countries signed a Trade Cooperation Agreement, followed by a series of agreements, memorandums of understanding, and treaties in areas such as labor, information security, extradition, defense, culture, and agriculture.

In November 2023, Vietnam and Mongolia signed an agreement to exempt visa requirements for citizens holding ordinary passports.

Bilateral trade between the two nations reached US$132 million in 2023.

In the first seven months of 2024, two-way trade amounted to $65.5 million.

Vietnam primarily exports pharmaceuticals, tobacco, coffee, dry noodles, and beer to Mongolia, while importing white horse balm, sheep wool carpets, and various animal hair and leather products from Mongolia.