Vietnam regarded as a key partner in RoK’s external policy

The affirmation was made by Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Han Duck-soo at a May 31 meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son as part of the latter’s official visit to the East Asian nation

Han highlighted the Vietnamese diplomat’s visit as an important basis to foster the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

The RoK PM also expressed his good sentiments towards Vietnam, and congratulated the nation on its tremendous socio-economic achievements, and growing position and role in the region.

The RoK Government places importance on the bilateral relationship and regards Vietnam as a key partner in its foreign policy in the region, he emphasized.

Both sides echoed the view on the need to beef up cooperation, maintain regular high-level exchanges and contacts, effectively carry out cooperation mechanisms and dialogues, practically boost economic ties as well as collaboration in culture, education, tourism and labour, and people-to-people exchange.

This is along with maintaining coordination at multilateral forums, and strengthening coordination in regional and international issues of shared concern.

Son also congratulated the RoK on its achievements, and affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will keep up close coordination with its Korean counterpart and other competent agencies of the two countries to reinforce the bilateral relations in a more practical and comprehensive manner and in the spirit of the agreement reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, focusing on the implementation of the action programme to realise the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Son thanked the RoK for its active cooperation with Vietnam, helping the Southeast Asian country fulfill its role as coordinator for the ASEAN-RoK relations for 2021-2024.

He called for the RoK’s support and experience sharing in the organisation of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit Vietnam will host in 2025, as well as the East Asian country’s continued support for Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea issue.

Vietnam always keeps a close watch on, backs and stands ready to contribute to the process of denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula, Son added.

The same day, FM Son held talks with his Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yeol, during which the guest underlining Vietnam's unwavering policy of ramping up the bilateral cooperation, making its more substantive, comprehensive and sustainable.

He proposed the RoK keep doors open for Vietnamese goods to enter its market and assist Vietnamese firms to join global supply chains of Korean businesses more intensively as a way of elevating two-way trade to US$100 billion next year.

The minister also called on the country to improve the quality of and expand investments in Vietnam, particularly in semiconductors, digital transformation, green transition, renewable energy and high technology; further consider providing big loans with preferential conditions for Vietnam's key infrastructure projects and others on climate change; bolster cooperation in labour, tourism, education and people-to-people exchange; and offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students.

Cho pledged to maintain close cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering the implementation of the above-said action programme, and suggested Vietnam create a favourable environment for Korean investors, while augmenting supply chain cooperation in essential minerals, developing LNG power plants, and hydrogen production.

The host minister applauded Vietnam’s role as coordinator of the ASEAN-RoK relations for 2021-2024.

Both laid stress on the importance of the East Sea to peace, security and stability in the region, and consented to continue supporting the resolution of disputes in the waters by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).