Meeting with RoK Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung Hwan, Mr Dung showed his delight at progress in the Vietnam-RoK strategic partnership, especially in economic, trade and investment cooperation. He noted that two-way trade increased by 40 percent to hit US$5 billion in the first half of this year.

The PM highly valued the RoK Government for its ODA provision to Vietnam and sought its assistance in facilitating Vietnam’s exports to the RoK.

He also hoped for more chances for Vietnamese students and workers in the East Asian country and the building of a RoK university in Vietnam’s central region. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government continues to create favourable conditions for Korean investors and hoped that the RoK will work to facilitate Vietnamese citizens’ life there.

PM Dung suggested that the RoK work closely with ASEAN member countries to effectively implement the ASEAN-RoK Free Trade Area agreement while hailing the promotion of the ASEAN-RoK relations to strategic partnership.

He thanked the RoK for inviting Vietnam as the ASEAN Chair to attend the G-20 Summit in November 2010 and noted that Vietnam will be happy to see the RoK President in Vietnam for the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi in October.

The RoK minister said his country looks forward to PM Dung’s attendance at the G-20 meeting and spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic development in recent years. He expressed his deep regret over the murder of a Vietnamese bride in the RoK and pledged to do his best to prevent similar cases.
He affirmed that his government will provide ODA for Vietnam and assist Vietnamese students and labourers in the RoK.

Talking with DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun, PM Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, Government and people always attach great importance to developing cooperative ties and traditional friendship with the country.

PM Dung said Vietnam supports peace, stability and denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula and backs dialogues towards these goals, including the resumption of the six-party talks.

He voiced Vietnam’s support for the UN Security Council Chair’s statement on July 9 on the Cheonan ship case, reiterating Vietnam’s consistent stand of opposing threats to use or the use of force in international relations.

The Vietnamese leader said Vietnam welcomes all efforts by concerned parties that aim to settle their issues through peaceful talks and continue to exercise self-restraint from any action which may harm peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. 

For his part, the DPRK Minister reaffirmed that he would make positive contribution to nurturing the friendly ties and traditional cooperation between the two countries.

At his reception for the Japanese FM Okada Katsuya, PM Dung noted that the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership has been developing positively, expressing hope that both country will further deepen their strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in all fields.

He spoke highly of Japan’s effective cooperation and assistance to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and its integration into the global economy.

The PM said he expects that as a big economy in the world, Japan will continue providing Vietnam with its ODA and encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Vietnam.

FM Okada Katsuya stated that his government always attaches importance to expanding multi-dimensional relations with Vietnam and will work closely with relevant Vietnamese agencies to realise high-level agreements, especially those in economics, investment, energy, urban planning and development and human resources.

He informed his host that relevant Japanese agencies are making final preparations for the Japanese Prime Minister’s attendance at ASEAN+ and Mekong-Japan meetings.