Deputy PM and Deputy FMs host Korean and Lao guests

At the reception for Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune who is in Vietnam to co-chair the 9th political consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Son hailed deputy ministerial-level political consultation mechanism between the two ministries and urged both sides to intensify information and experience exchange, work more closely at global and regional forums, and actively realise high-level agreements between the two countries' leaders and ministries for the 2021-2025 period.

The goal is to deepen and enhance the practical and effective development of the bilateral relations, he emphasized.

The Lao diplomat extended his congratulations to Son, leaders and staff of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 79th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day and the 79th founding anniversary of the diplomatic sector.

In the afternoon the same day, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and his Lao counterpart Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune co-chaired the 9th deputy ministerial-level political consultation.

Both sides consented to continue effectively preparing for high-level visits and important bilateral cooperation mechanisms in the near future. They also pledged to working hand in hand with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to accelerate the implementation of high-level agreements.

On global and regional issues of shared concern, they agreed that given complicated and uncertain global and regional developments, it is essential to uphold the tradition of close cooperation and mutual support at global and regional forums, especially within the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, and strategic issues relating to regional peace and stability.

Vietnam will continue working closely with and fully support Laos in successfully fulfilling its role as ASEAN Chair in 2024, helping maintain the bloc’s unity and central role, Viet said.

The two sides pledged to continue carrying out the 2021-2025 cooperation agreement between the two ministries, maintaining regular and effective ministerial and deputy ministerial consultation mechanisms, increasing the exchange of information and professional experiences, and working closely with relevant units of both ministries. The key areas of focus include policy research, foreign strategy, economic diplomacy, consular affairs, overseas Vietnamese, border issues, training, and capacity building.

The two sides consented to hold the 10th deputy ministerial-level political consultation in Laos in 2025.

Receiving Korean Minister of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and Startups Oh Young-joo the same day, Son showed his elation at the flourishing relationship between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK), highlighting the growing political trust and the remarkable progress in bilateral cooperation across all sectors, particularly economy.

Recognizing the significant potential for further collaboration, he asked the two sides to incentivize Korean enterprises to expand investments in Vietnam, especially in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), green economy, digital economy, and digital transformation. He also stressed the need to promote cooperation between their small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups.

Son suggested the RoK tcontinue supporting Vietnam in developing high-quality human resources in semiconductor manufacturing and high technology, which are crucial for the growth of the Southeast Asian nation. He also suggested the two countries enhance their cooperation in training, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and innovation, while implementing more practical activities to connect their innovation startup ecosystems.

For her part, Oh Young-joo voiced her wish for Vietnamese and Korean enterprises, particularly SMEs and startups, to strengthen joint work in developing new technologies, such as AI, digital technology, and innovation, thereby contributing to the overall development of the RoK-Vietnam ties.

The minister affirmed that her ministry will continue to share experience in building a startup ecosystem and provide policy support to facilitate bilateral collaboration, enabling SMEs of both countries to expand cooperation and investment.

Earlier on August 28, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu held a meeting with the Korean minister and representatives of various Vietnamese and Korean enterprises operating in the sectors of software production, IT, AI, educational technology, and healthcare, among others.

At the meeting, Vu applauded the business activities and contributions of Korean enterprises to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and expressed his hope that they would continue to expand their investment in the country, support Vietnamese firms in engaging in the value chain, and run their operations with efficiency, sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental protection.

Oh noted that there remain significant potential for the Vietnam-RoK cooperation, especially in the economic field.

She expressed her gratitude to the Vietnamese government for its continuous support and for offering favourable conditions for foreign investors, including Korean businesses, to operate efficiently and sustainably in Vietnam.