State President Lương Cường receives Park Chang-dal, Special Envoy of the Korean President in Hà Nội on Wednesday. —VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — State President Lương Cường has affirmed that Việt Nam consistently values its ties with the Republic of Korea (RoK), and supports development policies of President Lee Jae Myung's administration.

The Vietnamese state leader made the statement on Wednesday while hosting a reception for Park Chang-dal, Special Envoy of the Korean President, who is on a working visit to Việt Nam.

President Cường spoke highly of the new Korean President's early efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, including holding phone talks and sending the Special Envoy to Việt Nam shortly after taking office. The moves showed that the RoK treasures Việt Nam and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, he stressed.

Highlighting the robust progress achieved since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than three decades ago, and particularly since the upgrade of the ties to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022, President Cường noted that bilateral cooperation has expanded significantly across a wide range of sectors. The two countries have become each other's leading partners, he said.

The President called on both sides to make full use of the existing potential to further deepen cooperation by maintaining high-level exchanges and boosting collaboration in science and technology, innovation, and training of high-quality human resources, particularly in the context that Việt Nam is stepping up digital transformation, green growth and circular economy.

He urged stronger efforts to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in sectors where the RoK holds strengths and Việt Nam has demand, with a view to reaching the target of US$150 billion in two-way trade by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner. Cultural and sports exchanges as well as people-to-people links should also be expanded, the State leader suggested.

President Cường expressed his hope that the RoK will continue to support nearly 350,000 Vietnamese citizens living, studying and working in the RoK, including around 100,000 multicultural Vietnamese-Korean families, who serve as vital bridges for bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Park, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese President for the warm and respectful welcome. He affirmed that President Lee has attached much importance to relations with Việt Nam and considered Việt Nam a focal partner in the region.

He said the RoK's new administration, based on its desire for practical and effective development, is committed to working closely with Việt Nam to promote mutual growth.

He proposed Vietnamese authorities continue facilitating and addressing challenges faced by Korean enterprises investing in the country.

On regional and international matters, both sides agreed to strengthen coordination at regional and global forums of shared interest.

President Cường affirmed the significance of ensuring peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment with legal order. He stressed the need to settle maritime disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Special Envoy affirmed the RoK’s willingness to closely cooperate with Việt Nam in successfully organising the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in the RoK in 2025 as well as in Việt Nam in 2027. — VNA/VNS