“The Federal Government expressly welcomes a deepening of the EU’s relations with Mongolia. As a parliamentary democracy, Mongolia is an important partner in East Asia, sharing our values. As one of the world’s ten most resource-rich countries, Mongolia is an attractive partner for us Europeans. Within the EU, Germany has a tradition of especially close relations with Mongolia. Over 20,000 Mongolians – nearly 1 percent of the total population – have studied in Germany. This is a particularly good basis from which Germany, as Mongolia’s major European partner, can continue to offer its expertise for the building of a modern industrial society.
The EU must also continue to broaden its relations with Viet Nam. As one of the key countries in the dynamic growth region of Southeast Asia, Viet Nam is a partner of particular significance, both for Germany and for the EU at large. The agreement signed today places relations with Viet Nam on a solid, future-oriented foundation and paves the way for negotiations on a free trade agreement that will be of particular benefit to Germany. Furthermore, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Viet Nam contributes to the continued strengthening of political ties between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the whole.”