Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính witnessed the exchange of cooperation document between Việt Nam and Republic of Korea's tourism administration at the tourism and culture cooperation promotion forum held in Seoul on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

SEOUL — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính highlighted the strong development of tourism and culture cooperation between Việt Nam and the Republic of Korea (RoK), calling it a bright spot of the bilateral ties, while addressing a conference in Seoul on July 1 as part of his official visit to the Northeast Asian nation.

He said following the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022, the Việt Nam-RoK relationship is at its best ever, noting their political trust and good cooperation foundation in culture have given momentum to tourism collaboration and people-to-people exchange.

Both Việt Nam and the RoK are home to world heritage, with the former, eight, and the latter, 16, he continued, stressing the growing economic-trade-investment ties have also played a role in boosting the tourism and culture links.

The PM said the two sides have opened new air routes, offered new tourism products, and organised many cultural festivals, art programmes and tourism promotion campaigns.

Chính briefed the participants on Việt Nam's major tasks and solutions to ensure the effective, sustainable development of its tourism industry, and turn it into an economic spreadhead sector, making Vietnam enter the list of 30 countries with best tourism competitiveness.

The leader stressed that from August 15, 2023, Việt Nam has extended the stay duration for Korean tourists to 45 days from 15 days, and e-visa is valid for up to 90 days.

Chính expressed his hope that the two countries will work on specific, practical cooperation programmes to advance the tourism ties to a new level, matching the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

For culture, the PM said it has created a firm, extensive foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership, and lauded cooperation outcomes between the two ministries of culture, sports and tourism.

Mentioning cultural industries, he said the RoK’s experience in this field would be valuable for Việt Nam whose cultural and entertainment industries are at the initial steps, and suggested the RoK help the Southeast Asian nation in the building of relevant institutions and policies and infrastructure, personnel training, administration, and resources mobilisation.

For Việt Nam's orientations in this sphere, Chính said Việt Nam aims to provide creative, unique, professional, healthy, competitive and sustainable products, and the country is building a strategy for cultural industries by 2030 with a vision towards 2045.

Việt Nam wishes to receive support and cooperation from the RoK in devising and materialising such strategies and policies to spur cultural industries in the time ahead, as well as in building a centre of Vietnamese culture in the country, he said.

On this occasion, PM Chính witnessed the exchange of 10 memoranda of understanding on culture, trade and tourism cooperation between agencies and businesses of the two countries, including one between the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organisation, and four between the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and its partners.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also handed over a decision on the re-appointment of Lý Xương Văn (Lee Chang-kun), a descendant of the Vietnamese Lý Royal family, as Việt Nam's tourism ambassador to the RoK.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the RoK has emerged as the biggest source of tourists to Việt Nam. In the first five months of this year, Việt Nam welcomed nearly 2.2 million Korean visitors. For every 10 international tourists in the Southeast Asian nation, there are three Koreans. — VNS