This will be General Secretary To Lam’s first state visit to the RoK in his new position, and he is the first “state guest” invited by President Lee since taking office. This reflects the RoK’s special regard for its relationship with Vietnam and demonstrates the strong determination of President Lee and the RoK Government to develop the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between the two countries toward the future, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu.

The visit takes place amid complex and unstable developments in the region and the world in terms of politics, security, economy, trade, and investment. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Vietnam and the RoK have continuously developed a close, mutually beneficial partnership in many fields. The RoK is currently the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with about 10,000 Korean businesses operating in the country, the third-largest trading partner, and Vietnam’s largest development cooperation partner. Both sides have set the goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to US$150 billion by 2030.

Beyond economic cooperation, the friendship between the peoples of the two countries has grown deep and enduring, far beyond statistical indicators. Every year, there are more than 5 million mutual visits. There are now about 100,000 multicultural Vietnamese–Korean families, often likened to “two in-laws” bound by marriage ties, forming a solid foundation of trust and friendship. Around 350,000 Vietnamese people currently live in the RoK, and more than 200,000 Koreans reside in Vietnam. About 100 localities from both sides have established friendship relations.

This state visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the leaders of the two countries to engage in strategic discussions, identify directions and measures to promote the relationship in a practical, comprehensive, and effective manner, while opening up new cooperation areas in important and potential fields, especially science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, semiconductor energy, artificial intelligence, production chain development, cultural industries, and sharing development experiences, said Deputy Foreign Minister Vu.

President Lee Jae-myung affirmed that General Secretary To Lam’s visit would further strengthen political trust between the two countries, marking an important milestone and opening a new chapter in Vietnam–RoK relations. He expressed his hope that bilateral cooperation would not only remain in trade and investment but would also expand into strategic future-oriented areas such as national infrastructure, science and technology, and human resources training.

During the visit, the two sides are expected to organise a variety of activities with strategic highlights in politics, economic–trade cooperation, culture and arts, and people-to-people exchanges. The discussions will be strategically oriented, laying the groundwork for Vietnam–RoK relations to continue thriving in the new era.

Vietnam and RoK vow to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

VOV.VN - Vietnam and the Republic of Korea pledged to enhance their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the August 6 phone conversation between Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun.