Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony was heldin Hanoi on November 18 to mark the 65th founding anniversary of the diplomaticrelationship between Vietnam and Mongolia.

Addressing the event, Chairman of theVietnam-Mongolia Friendship Association Ho Xuan Hung said the two countriesofficially set up diplomatic ties on November 17, 1954, heralding a new periodin the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

With the common wish to help maintain peace andnurture amity and collaboration among nations, the Vietnamese and Mongolianpeoples have made tireless efforts to intensify relations in all spheres withmutual understanding and trust, he noted.

Hung congratulated Mongolia on its achievements,voicing his belief that on the basis of the time-tested friendship, theirleaders’ attention and each country’s strengths, the Vietnam-Mongoliafriendship and cooperation will keep flourishing, thus meeting the two peoples’aspirations.

Expressing his delight at the growing bilaterallinks, Mongolian Ambassador to Vietnam Bilegdorj Dash said since theestablishment of their diplomatic ties, the two countries have been developingbilateral relations in such fields as politics, economy, education and culture.In particular, in the most trying times, the two peoples supported each otherboth spiritually and materially.

Political connections have enjoyed multiplestrides with high-level mutual visits maintained. Besides, trade and economicpartnerships have also been growing stably, he said, noting that bilateraltrade reached 60 million USD in 2018, rising 2.5-fold from the five yearsearlier. As many as 164 Vietnamese businesses have invested 33 million USD inMongolia so far.

Cultural exchanges have also been held regularlyto help enhance mutual understanding, according to him.

The diplomat stressed Vietnam is the mainpartner of his country in Southeast Asia, describing it as a bridge linkingMongolia with ASEAN. He affirmed that the countries’ relations will continuedeveloping in the future, especially in culture and tourism./.