Vietnam always wants to step up its relations with Mongolia in all areas in line with the interest, potential and need of both countries on the basis of the sound traditional friendship between the two countries over the past seven decades, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam said on September 30.

Meeting with Mongolian Chairman of the Parliament Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan as part of his state visit to Mongolia, Lam expressed his delight at the trip which took place in the time that the bilateral relations are developing robustly in various domains.

Vietnam always bears in the mind and treasures the sentiments and valuable supports that the State and people of Mongolia have given to Vietnam during the country’s struggle for national independence as well as national construction and development nowadays, he stressed, saying he appreciates Mongolia’s treasuring the relations with Vietnam as well as considering the nation a leading important partner in Southeast Asia.

Amarbayasgalan, for his part, welcomed Lam’s visit and expressed his belief that it will contribute to enhancing cooperation and deepening the Vietnam – Mongolia comprehensive partnership that the Vietnamese leader and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh have announced, which, he said, will be a foundation for the two sides to promote the comprehensive development of their all-round cooperation in the time ahead.

At the event, the two sides spoke highly of the cooperation and exchanges between the two parliaments which have developed into a more substantial fashion both bilaterally and multilaterally.

They concurred to continue effectively and comprehensive carrying out the cooperation agreements between the two parliaments in 2018, promoting the role of the legislative bodies in reviewing and supervising the implementation of the documents signed between the two countries and boosting the exchanges of high-level delegations and those of young parliamentarians.

They agreed that the two parliaments should enhance the bridging role of the friendship parliamentarians group while pushing ahead consultation coordination and support for each other at inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership, and Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum as well as discussing regional and international issues of mutual concerns.

The two sides were unanimous about enhancing the role of the legislative bodies in coordinating to bolster the substantive, effective and comprehensive connectivity between the two economies, making it in line with the comprehensive partnership, encouraging enterprises of both nations to engage in trade promotion programmes and opening their markets to each other's goods on a reciprocal basis with a view to achieving the goal of raising two-way trade turnover to 200 million USD soon.

They also said it is necessary for the two countries to step up trade and promotion activities, fortify cooperation in the diversification of material supply chain, particularly in the areas of their strengths, and urge the signing of a new investment promotion and protection agreement.

Additionally, they reached consensus on further strengthening the citizen protection work, ensuring that their expatriates feel secure to live, study and work in each nation, joining hands to enhance cooperation in cultural and sport exchanges to boost mutual understanding and friendship and supporting the training of Vietnamese athletes in Mongolia in the areas that the country excels. Besides, they agreed to step up the popularisation of tourism potential and strength, sharing of tourism policies and tourism management and development experience and promotion of local cooperation./.VNA