Vietnam desires to strengthen partnership with RoK

On December 21, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with  Korean President Moon Jae-in, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, met with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, and attended a dialogue with top Korean businesses as part of ongoing trip to the Republic of Korea (RoK).

During his meeting with President Moon Jae-in, the Deputy PM reiterated Vietnam’s determination to promote strategic cooperative partnership with RoK for development and peace. 

President Moon Jae-in welcomed the visit to the RoK by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his delegation on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic relations which, he said, will contribute to propelling the relationship between the two countries forward in the to come.

He congratulated Vietnam on the successful hosting of the APEC Year 2017 events, especially the APEC Economic Leaders Week held in November and affirmed the RoK's readiness to support, cooperate and share experience for Vietnam's development. He also expressed his wish for an early visit to Vietnam.

Meeting with Prime Minister Lee Nak Yeon, Deputy Prime Minister Minh called for more balanced trade towards US$100 billion in trade value by 2020. He encouraged Korean businesses to invest in Vietnam’s infrastructure.

The two officials discussed major orientations to enhance political trust and carry out practical measures to bolster cooperation in investment, trade and technology transfer.

Lee promised to direct RoK agencies to augment cooperation with Vietnamese partners to expand cooperation areas in the future.

In talks with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, both agreed to hold deputy ministerial level strategic dialogue on diplomacy, security and defense. Deputy Prime Minister Minh asked the RoK to provide more ODA to Vietnam to build infrastructure, land mine clearance and receive more Vietnamese workers in the RoK. He reiterated Vietnam’s constant policy of supporting peace, stability and denuclearization in the Korean peninsula.

FM Pham Binh Minh holds talks with  Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

The two officials also agreed to develop bilateral trade in a stable and balance manner, while working hand in hand to conduct the framework agreement on a US$1.5 billion  credit package from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) signed in November 2017 and the credit programme worth US$12 billion within the financial cooperation between the two nations, and continuing to increasing cooperation in culture, education, health and people-to-people exchanges.

The Korean FM extolled Minh’s proposals and hoped that the Government of Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for RoK firms to partake in large projects such as Long Thanh international airport, metro project in Ho Chi Minh City, and North-South Expressway. 

He promised that the Foreign Ministry and other agencies of the RoK will continue coordinating closely with Vietnamese counterparts to implement practical measures to foster the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

The two ministers also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern. Minh reiterated Vietnam’s unwavering policy of supporting peace, stability and denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula.

After the talks, the ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two ministries of foreign affairs.

On the same day, Minh had a dialogue with leaders of 20 leading groups in the RoK such as Samsung, Hyundai, Lotte, Kumho, Hanwha, Hyosung, LG and Korea Eximbank.

The RoK businesses raised questions about Vietnam’s policies and institutions in the fields of investment, trade, tax and banking and suggested Vietnam continue providing favourable conditions for RoK investors to expand production and business operations in Vietnam.

Deputy PM Minh pledged favorable conditions for them to run business effectively and contribute to bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.