Developing Vietnam-Mongolia defense cooperation increasingly effective and substantive

President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh warmly welcomed General Phan Van Giang. Photo: Mongolian Ministry of Defense.

Welcoming General Phan Van Giang and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to an official visit to Mongolia, President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh emphasized that Vietnam holds a special position in Mongolia's foreign policy. In nearly 70 years of establishing diplomatic relations, the two countries have always supported and helped each other. President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh hopes that in the coming time, the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Mongolia will develop to new heights, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh receives General Phan Van Giang. Photo: Mongolian Ministry of Defense.

Thanking President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh for taking the time to receive the delegation, Minister Phan Van Giang affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with Mongolia. Minister Phan Van Giang sent greetings from President Vo Van Thuong to the President of Mongolia. On this occasion, Mongolian President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh also sent greetings to Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. Minister Phan Van Giang expressed his belief that the Mongolian President's visit to Vietnam in early November will be a great success; emphasizing that the visit is of great significance as in 2024 the two countries will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Minister Phan Van Giang expressed his feelings and emotions when visiting the Ho Chi Minh Inter-level School 14 a day earlier.

Minister Phan Van Giang also informed President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh of the good results of his talks with Mongolian Defense Minister Gursediin Saikhanbayar and the cooperation between the two countries' armies in recent times. At the talks, the two sides agreed to strengthen defense cooperation, in line with the good traditional relations between the two countries. The two countries' Defense Ministries have been constantly striving to cooperate in a practical and effective manner, in line with the needs of both sides.

For his part, Mongolian President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh expressed his good impressions and feelings about the country and people of Vietnam; pledged to foster good relations between the two countries, and pay attention to promoting the development of Vietnam-Mongolia defense relations.

President Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh affirmed that he will create the most favorable conditions for the Mongolian Ministry of Defense and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense to deepen cooperation, commensurate with the cooperation framework between the two countries.

* Earlier, on the morning of October 26, at the headquarters of the Mongolian Ministry of Defense, Mongolian Minister of Defense Gursediin Saikhanbayar presided over the welcoming ceremony for General Phan Van Giang and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense on an official visit to Mongolia.

Defense Ministers of Vietnam and Mongolia review the honor guard.

Official welcoming ceremony for Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang at the headquarters of the Mongolian Ministry of National Defense.

The traditional and long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Mongolia, which was nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sedenban and generations of leaders and people of the two countries, is growing steadily and achieving practical results. The Vietnamese and Mongolian people have always supported each other in the past struggle for national liberation as well as in the current cause of national construction and defense.

After the solemn welcoming ceremony for the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, Minister Phan Van Giang and Minister Gursediin Saikhanbayar held talks. The Mongolian Minister of National Defense warmly welcomed the first official visit of the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense; believing that the visit will deepen defense cooperation between the two countries in particular, as well as the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Mongolia in general. Emphasizing that Vietnam is a heroic country with stable politics and a potential economy, Minister Gursediin Saikhanbayar stated that Vietnam holds a particularly important position in Mongolia's foreign policy. Mongolia always attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a bridge to develop relations between Mongolia and countries in the ASEAN region, and at the same time an important partner of Mongolia in the region.

The Vietnamese Minister of Defense and the Mongolian Minister of Defense witnessed the signing ceremony of the Agreement on delegation exchange between the two Ministries of Defense.

General Phan Van Giang thanked the Mongolian Ministry of National Defense and the Mongolian people for the warm welcome given to the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense. General Phan Van Giang affirmed that Vietnam persistently implements the "4 no's" defense policy and the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification of international relations, giving high priority to developing friendly and cooperative relations with traditional friends, including Mongolia. Minister Phan Van Giang respectfully invited Minister Gursediin Saikhanbayar to attend the 80th Anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024, to be held at the end of 2024.

The Vietnamese Minister of Defense and the Mongolian Minister of Defense took souvenir photos with delegates.

At the talks, both sides agreed that over the past time, based on trust, understanding and mutual support, the two countries' Ministries of Defense have effectively coordinated and implemented many cooperation contents, focusing on areas such as: Exchange of delegations, exchanges, contacts at all levels, especially high-level delegations; training; sending officials to participate in conferences, seminars and activities organized by the Mongolian Ministry of Defense and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense.

The Mongolian Defense Minister presented a horse to Minister Phan Van Giang. This is a traditional ceremony of Mongolian tribes towards distinguished guests.

In the coming time, the two sides agreed to continue efforts to effectively and practically implement cooperation in many areas such as: Maintaining high-level contacts and exchanges at all levels; defense industry; training; military medicine, culture and arts, military sports and exchanging experiences in participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Minister Phan Van Giang and Minister Gursediin Saikhanbayar also shared their assessments of the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developing environment in the East Sea, not only for coastal countries but also for landlocked countries.

After the talks, Minister Phan Van Giang and Minister Gursediin Saikhanbayar witnessed the signing ceremony of the Agreement on delegation exchange between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the Mongolian Ministry of National Defense.

Minister Gursediin Saikhanbayar also performed the traditional ceremony of Mongolian tribes giving gifts to distinguished guests and invited Minister Phan Van Giang to visit the traditional Tent House of the Mongolian army.

Minister Phan Van Giang visits facilities at the National Defense University of Mongolia.

On the afternoon of October 26, General Phan Van Giang and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense also visited the Mongolian National Defense University in the capital city of Ulan Bator. The school was established in 1921 and is the highest-level military educational institution with the longest history in the Mongolian army. The Mongolian National Defense University is responsible for training and fostering high-ranking officials and officers of the Mongolian army in leadership skills, physical and mental strength as well as educating and fostering a lot of specialized knowledge about strategic and operational military.

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