Vietnamese, RoK Foreign Ministers hold talks

On March 9 in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of  Korea (RoK) Kang Kyung-wha on measures to further promote the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership as well as regional and international issues of shared concern.

The two sides reviewed the achievements of the bilateral ties, especially since Vietnam and the Republic of Korea established their strategic cooperative partnership in 2009.

The leaders consented to enhance cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries and two countries, stabilize economic, trade, and investment ties, and foster mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Both FMs agreed to work closely in multilateral mechanisms, and applauded efforts to promote dialogues and peacefully settle the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear issue. They also voiced support for maintaining peace and security, and resolving conflicts in the East Sea peacefully in accordance with international law.

They noted with satisfaction the growing Vietnam-RoK relations, concurring to intensify high-level exchanges and meetings in order to deepen mutual understanding and political trust and create a favourable environment for stepping up ties in a multitude of fields.

The two diplomats also agreed to tighten links between the two foreign ministries so as to solidify their countries’ cooperation. Major focus will be  on economics, trade and investment on a stable, balanced and sustainable basis, and on mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Korean people and tourism cooperation.
Deputy PM Minh affirmed that on the basis of the unwavering foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of relations, and intensive integration into the world, Vietnam always places importance on developing relations with the RoK. 

He assured Vietnam's desire to work with the RoK to share experience, bolster development cooperation, trade liberalisation and regional connectivity, and maintain peace, security and stability in the region and the world.

He hailed the RoK’s participation in big infrastructure projects, equitising State-owned enterprises, and restructuring commercial banks in Vietnam. He asked the country to expedite the assessment of some agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam such as star apple, rambutan, longan, lychee, and some pork and chicken products in 2018.

Minh also called on the RoK to boost technology transfer, help Vietnamese businesses to engage in production chains of the RoK businesses investing in Vietnam, and advocate the establishment and operation of a Vietnam-RoK technology transfer centre. He suggested the two sides soon re-sign the standard memorandum of understanding on sending and receiving Vietnamese labourers in the RoK.

In addition, the two countries should accelerate the organisation of the third round of negotiations on a judicial assistance agreement in civil and trade matters to create a legal basis for resolving issues relating to their citizens, the Deputy PM said, asking the RoK to offer optimal conditions for the granting of tourist visas to Vietnamese citizens and the opening of direct air routes between the two countries toward stronger tourism cooperation.

With regard to international and regional issues, both sides agreed to continue the close coordination and effective cooperation at multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Mekong-RoK.

They applauded efforts to promote dialogue and peacefully solve the nuclear issue of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and offered mutual support for the maintenance of peace, security and stability and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in the East Sea in line with international law.

Minister Kang Kyung-wha greatly valued Vietnam’s socio-economic and international integration accomplishments over the past years, particularly the successful APEC Year 2017.

The RoK’s Foreign Ministry will continue working closely with Vietnam to  speed up the implementation of high-level agreements in a substantive and effective manner, thus helping elevate the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership to a new height, she said.

Foreign Minister Kang said the Republic of Korea is carrying out its New Look-South policy, which considers Vietnam a key partner.