Vietnam wishes to strengthen cooperation with Mongolia in the direction of exploring each country’s potential and strengths as the two countries have had a close relationship for many years.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet made this statement while receiving the Speaker of the Mongolian Parliament, Demberel Damdin in Hanoi on Dec. 15.

Vietnam was also willing to act as a bridge for Mongolia to expand its cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said.

In the spirit of the meeting, President Triet asked ministries and relevant agencies of both countries to increase exchange of measures that could be taken to boost cooperation, especially in trade and mining.

The Mongolian legislative leader affirmed that Mongolia highly valued Vietnam’s role in the Southeast Asia and expected to increase and expand traditional friendship and multi-sided cooperation with Vietnam.

In its foreign policy, Mongolia was determined to boost cooperation with Vietnam with the aim of expanding relations with ASEAN, he said, adding that with its potential in minerals, Mongolia was also ready to work with Vietnam in mining.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed Speaker Demberel Damdin and his entourage, affirming that Vietnam wished to further promote multifaceted cooperation with Mongolia for mutual benefit.

Vietnam and Mongolia should support each other at multilateral and international forums, PM Dung said, adding that the two countries should also increase high-ranking visits to boost mutual understanding and trade cooperation.

Vietnam backs Mongolia ’s hosting of APEC 2011, PM Dung said.

Sharing Speaker Demberel Damdin’s view on the two countries’ cooperation potential, especially in agriculture and fisheries, PM Dung asked both countries to consider cooperation possibilities in oil and gas exploration and mining.

In his opinion, bilateral trade value of 10 million USD at present did not match the two countries’ potential and the level should be higher in the near future.

Vietnam also wants to increase cooperation in education and training, defence and security with Mongolia, the PM said, asking the inter-governmental committee of the two countries to continue to realise agreements reached between Vietnam and Mongolia to further consolidate and develop bilateral ties.

Speaker Demberel Damdin said Mongolia wants to expand new cooperation fields with Vietnam./.