Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn (third from left) and members of KOVECA pose for a photo. — VNA/VNS Photo Đức Thắng

SEOUL — Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn received Chairman of the Korea – Vietnam Economic and Cultural Association (KOVECA) Kwon Sung Taek on Thursday as part of his official visit to the East Asian country.

At the event, Sơn highlighted that his trip to the country from May 30 to June 1 aims to promote the implementation of the high-level agreements between the two nations, including the action plan to carry out the Việt Nam – Republic of Korea (RoK) Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between the two governments during Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to Việt Nam in June last year.

He affirmed KOVECA members’ unceasing dedication has contributed to consolidating the friendship between the two peoples as well as bolstering multi-faceted collaboration between the two countries.

Sơn expressed his belief that KOVECA and its members will continue promoting its key role in strengthening the sound cooperative ties, encouraging Korean firms to step up investment and trade with Việt Nam, and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese people living, working and studying in the host nation.

He said he hopes that the association will pay attention to and support Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families, helping fortify the friendship between the two countries.

Kwon Sung Taek, for his part, affirmed that he will make further efforts for the development of bilateral relations and friendship in the coming time.

The same day, Sơn hosted a reception for representatives of the Ly family in the RoK, who are descendants of a prince of the Ly Dynasty, during which the FM expressed his delight at the success of the clan and its contributions to the host nation’s development as well as the Việt Nam-RoK ties over the past 30 years.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always see the Ly family as well as Vietnamese people in the RoK an indispensable part of the nation, and has paid due attention to assisting them so that they could thrive in both their host nation and homeland.

Speaking highly of the Ly family’s practical activities to strengthen bonds between the two nations, Sơn expressed his hope that the Ly descendants will continue turning their hearts to the homeland with various support activities.

According to the Ly family's representatives, the family has arranged trips to Việt Nam on the occasion of the Tết holiday, introduced the Vietnamese market and investment climate and mobilised Korean firms to invest in the country, and helped Vietnamese brides better integrate into the life and culture of the RoK. — VNS