A high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by Party General Secretary To Lam is paying a state visit to the RoK from August 10 – 13 at the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung. This is the General Secretary’s first trip to the RoK in his new position and the first State visit received by the new Korean administration, reflecting the special importance both countries’ leaders attach to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Son stressed that over the past three decades, Vietnam–RoK relations have become a model of deep and broad cooperation, recording major gains in all fields and contributing positively to regional peace, stability, and development. This visit aims to strengthen political trust, coordinate closely on strategic matters, promote substantive and comprehensive cooperation, deepen people-to-people bonds, and set new priorities and directions for cooperation amid complex global and regional developments.

According to the Foreign Minister, Vietnam has put forward four priority cooperation areas with the RoK, focusing on (1) enhancing high-level exchanges and cooperation in diplomacy, defence, and security; (2) improving cooperation in infrastructure, high technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, smart cities, and integrated industrial complexes in value chains; (3) developing science–technology, innovation, digital transformation, and high-quality human resources as new pillars of cooperation; (and (4) boosting cooperation in cultural industries, tourism, labour, climate change, education, health, and people-to-people exchanges.

On investment, he noted that the RoK currently has over 10,000 valid projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of US$93.7 billion - a testament to strategic confidence in Vietnam’s investment environment. Both sides have identified ensuring the sustainability of supply chains as a strategic priority amid global geopolitical and trade uncertainties.

Vietnam is committed to accompanying Korean enterprises in developing diverse supply chains and encouraging Vietnamese companies to engage more deeply in high-value segments, he said.

On cultural and people-to-people ties, the chief diplomat said the two countries share many cultural, historical, and community spirit similarities, and have large expatriate communities, with  more than 350,000 Vietnamese in the RoK and 250,000 Koreans in Vietnam, including around 100,000 multicultural Vietnamese–Korean families. Vietnam will establish a cultural centre in the RoK, increase heritage preservation, artistic exchange, tourism promotion, and support young generations in multicultural families.

On the economic strategy, he said Vietnam’s GDP per capita in 2024 was US$4,700, ranking 32nd in the world. As a highly open economy, Vietnam is deeply affected by the increasingly complex and intertwined international landscape, which poses significant challenges to national development.

“However, we see this as an opportunity to strongly innovate our thinking, methods, and development model. To achieve rapid and sustainable growth, we cannot follow the old path, we must dare to think big, act boldly, and carry out major reforms with a new mindset, a new vision, a new spirit, and the strong determination of the entire nation,” he stressed.

The country is streamlining its political apparatus, reforming its legal framework, promoting science–technology and innovation, fostering private sector growth, deepening integration, and diversifying partnerships.

“We firmly believe that these extensive, synchronized, and comprehensive reforms will lay the foundation for Vietnam to continue its success story in the upcoming strategic development phase. We look forward to the Republic of Korea’s continued partnership on this journey,” said the chief diplomat.

On foreign policy, Vietnam remains steadfast in pursuing independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development and in upholding its “four no’s” defence policy to strengthen strategic trust and contribute to regional and global stability. As a result, it has now established strategic partnerships or higher-level relations with all major countries.

“We also place great importance on advancing ties with neighbouring countries, regional partners, other key partners, and traditional friends, in order to foster an open foreign policy landscape and promote equal, mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries. We take pride in these foundations and core values, which have helped build political trust and friendship between Vietnam and its partners and friends,” said the minister.

Regarding institutional reform, he said streamlining government structures has saved resources for social policies such as free tuition from preschool to the end of high school and moving toward universal free healthcare, while expanding development space, forming key economic zones, and building closely linked value chains.

Vietnam aims to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045. He affirmed that Vietnam is determined and will spare no effort to build a country that is “more dignified and beautiful,” as President Ho Chi Minh once wished.

Party General Secretary To Lam arrives in Seoul on state visit to Republic of Korea

VOV.VN - A plane carrying Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation landed at Seongnam Airbase in Seoul on August 10, beginning a state visit to the Republic of Korea at the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung.