Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) will work closely toward lifting their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022 in celebration of 30 years of diplomacy between the two countries.

They agreed on major cooperation activities in 2022, including the celebration of the 30 years of diplomatic ties, to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and visits between senior leaders of the two countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Republic of Korea (RoK) counterpart Chung Eui-yong. Photo: VNA

The agreements were reached during talks in Seoul on Feb. 10 between RoK Foreign Minister Chung Eui-young and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son.

Son said that Vietnam attaches great importance to and wishes to strengthen cooperation with the RoK.

He said that the two sides should enhance cooperation in diplomacy, defense and security, and improve the quality of economic, trade and investment cooperation, striving to raise bilateral trade turnover to US$ 100 billion by 2023 and US$150 billion by 2030.

He expected that RoK businesses will increase and expand investment in Vietnam, especially in the fields of high technology, renewable energy, and digital transformation, and at the same time enhance technology transfer, and build research and development (R&D) centers in Vietnam.

The diplomatsuggested that the RoK continue to consider providing preferential loans for large infrastructure projects and climate change response projects, while deepening cooperation in labour, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges.

Minister Son requested that the RoK soon recognize Vietnam’s vaccine passport, and continue to support the Southeast Asian country in improving its Covid-19 prevention and control capacity.

At the talks. Photo: VNA

Minister Chung appreciated Son’s proposals and affirmed Vietnam is an important and leading partner of the RoK.

He said what the RoK and Vietnam have achieved over the past three decades will create a solid foundation for stronger development of bilateral relations.

He raised proposals to deepen bilateral cooperation in politics - diplomacy, defense - security, economy - trade, health - science and technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

He said the RoK Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and agencies of Vietnam to make practical contributions to the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The two Ministers also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the Ministerial Meeting of the Southeast Asia Programme of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Minister Son congratulated the RoK on successfully organizing the first Ministerial Meeting of the Southeast Asia Programme of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Seoul on Feb. 9.

He assured his host that Vietnam will promote its role as coordinator of the ASEAN – RoK relations towards 35 years of the establishment of relations in 2024.

The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

Minister Son said that Vietnam is willing to work together with other parties to promote inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation, contributing to peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam and the RoK would pursue their active stance of maintaining peace, stability and legal order at sea, respecting freedom of navigation and overflight, and settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He also expected the RoK would maintain its support for ASEAN and China in building a substantive, effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and UNCLOS 1982.

Son is on an official visit to the RoK from Feb. 9-11 at the invitation of his RoK counterpart Chung Eui-yong.

Also on Feb. 10, he met with the President of the RoK - Vietnam Friendship Association and the President of the Korean cultural development association, and visited the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK.

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