ASEAN strengthening cooperation with China, Japan, RoK
	Floods bring further hardship to Vietnamese in RoK amid COVID-19 pandemic
	Teamwork in return of Vietnamese citizens stranded by COVID-19 from RoK

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Kang Kyung-wha in Hanoi on September 17 (Photo: VNA)

Phuc received visiting RoK's Foreign Minister in Hanoi on September 17, VNA reported.

The Korean minister highly valued the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to promote bilateral relations despite COVID-19 impacts, voicing her hope that the two sides will resume high-level mutual visits at an early date.

She also expressed her impression of Vietnam’s containment of COVID-19 and efforts to carry out bilateral exchanges amid the pandemic, noting that a large number of Koreans are wishing to enter Vietnam for investment and business purposes and so are many Vietnamese.

The RoK is ready to facilitate entry for Vietnamese people in the current context, Kang said, adding that she stressed the need to install the fast-track entry program, noting that small and midsized RoK's enterprises have had difficulties due to the entry restrictions.

The official suggested both countries soon sign an agreement on social insurance to better ensure employees’ interests. She also proposed Vietnam include the RoK in the reference country list in bidding for medical equipment procurement as her country has strength in producing international-standard medical equipment.

Appreciating the minister’s opinions, PM Phuc affirmed that the best possible conditions will be provided for Korean experts and entrepreneurs to enter Vietnam.

Vietnam supports the RoK’s New Southern Policy and hopes that the two sides will maintain high-level exchanges on the basis of ensured pandemic prevention and control, thereby bolstering bilateral cooperation, he said.

The Government leader asked the RoK to coordinate to carry out effective measures and create favourable procedures so that the countries can reach the trade target of 100 billion USD in the near future and balance bilateral trade.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Kang Kyung-wha in Hanoi on September 17. Photo: Yonhap

Many major Korean businesses have been operating successfully in Vietnam, thus contributing to bilateral ties, he noted, affirming the Vietnamese Government’s attention to all opinions from Korean firms.

At the meeting, the PM also voiced his hope that the RoK will reduce and then eliminate binding conditions for its ODA and concessional loans while expanding non-refundable aid for Vietnam, receive more Vietnamese guest workers, and provide more support for the Vietnamese community in the RoK, especially amid the current pandemic.

In terms of the East Sea issue, he hoped the RoK will keep supporting Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance in this regard, including maintaining peace and stability, ensuring safety and security of navigation and overflight in the waters, and respecting international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Kang is the first foreign top diplomat to officially visit Vietnam since the COVID-19 outbreak./.

Learn Korean with K-pop sensation BTS Big Hit Entertainment, the management agency of K-pop group BTS, announced that it has partnered with the Korea Foundation (KF) and the Hankuk University of ...

Nearly 7,000 Korean people displaced by torrential rains, Vietnam sends condolences Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 10 sent a message of condolences to Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Chung Sye-kyun over great losses in ...

Another flight carries citizens home from Canada, RoK; local spread widens Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, a total of 300 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from Canada and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on Vietnam Airlines flight ...