HÀ NỘI – National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân urged her Korean counterpart yesterday to work for additional investments by the Republic of Korea (RoK) in Việt Nam’s transporation infrastructure and boost technology transfer.

For his part, the Speaker of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s NA, Chung Sye-kyun, said the two countries enjoyed strong economic and trade development and planned to expand relation to diplomacy, security and education, adding that his country is willing to transfer technology to Việt Nam.

The two top legislators met in Hà Nội and discussed a wide range of issues.

Ngân called on RoK businesses to provide technical assistance and conduct a feasibility study of a railway route from Biên Hòa to Vũng Tàu cities, and carry out a pre-feasibility study of an expressway from HCM City to Mộc Bài International Border Gate in Tây Ninh Province.

She noted with satisfaction that with nearly 6,000 valid projects worth US$50.98 billion, the RoK was taking the lead among 116 countries and territories investing in Việt Nam.

"Việt Nam encourages big Korean groups to take part in its State-owned enterprises’ equitisation and bank restructuring," Ngân said, and hoped Korean companies would focus on technology transfer to Vietnamese partners and raise the local content in products.

Ngân voiced her hope that Korean electronics, processing, manufacturing, energy and infrastructure development industries would build high technology complexes and invest in industrial park infrastructure and high-quality agriculture in Việt Nam.

The top legislator thanked the RoK for considering Việt Nam as a prioritised partner to provide development assistance, adding that the aid has substantially contributed to poverty elimination and rural development.

She hoped that the RoK’s parliament would continue to supply non-refundable aid and ODA loans to Việt Nam in the fields of the RoK’s strengths and Việt Nam’s need, such as transport, health care, environment, high technology, personnel training and startup. The two sides should also enhance cooperation in shipbuilding and seaport design and construction, she said.

The speaker suggested that Việt Nam sign a social insurance agreement with the RoK, and back the upgrade of several RoK credit organisations’ representative offices in Việt Nam.

Agreeing with the guest’s proposal on the social insurance agreement, she promised to recommend that the Government assign the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to deal with the matter.

Both host and guest agreed that the bilateral trade turnover had recorded impressive growth, with a 90-fold increase compared with the figure in 1992, when they established their diplomatic ties, while sharing the view that specific solutions are needed to correct the trade imbalance.

The Vietnamese top legislator proposed increasing direct flights between the two countries to serve tourism, as Việt Nam welcomed around 1.54 million Korean tourists in 2016, and nearly 530,000 arrivals in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year rise of 29 per cent.

Ngân informed her guest that the Vietnamese Government has decided to include the RoK in the list of 40 countries whose citizens can apply online for visas to Việt Nam, while keeping in place the unilateral exemption of visas for RoK citizens for under-15 day stay. She asked the RoK to consider visa exemption for Vietnamese tourists for short stays.

The Vietnamese side proposed that the RoK increase information exchange and experience sharing in fighting crime, while strengthening security and support for the Vietnamese community and businesses in the RoK.

The Vietnamese NA leader thanked the NA and Government of the RoK for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country, proposing that the RoK’s parliament continue to design effective policies to protect and support the community, especially Vietnamese women married to RoK citizens.

"Việt Nam looks forward to the RoK President’s official visit and attendance in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Đà Nẵng City this November, "she said.

Earlier in the day, Sye-kyun and the RoK high-ranking legislator delegation paid tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum in Hà Nội. — VNS