Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh (L) meets with Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea in Seoul on December 21. — VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Toàn

SEOUL — Việt Nam treasures its strategic co-operative partnership with the Republic of Korea and wishes to strengthen it further, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh said in Seoul on December 21.

Meeting with Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea (RoK), during his three-day visit to the country, Minh thanked the RoK President for attending and contributing actively to the success of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Đà Nẵng last month.
He said stronger relations with the RoK would promote development of both countries and contribute to peace and co-operation in the region and the world.
Moon welcomed Minh’s visit, noting that it takes place at a time when Việt Nam and the RoK are celebrating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, thus deepening bilateral ties.
He congratulated Việt Nam on successfully hosting the APEC Year 2017 and affirmed that the RoK is always willing to support, co-operate and share experiences with Việt Nam.
During a meeting with RoK Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon the same day, the two officials discussed major orientations to enhance political trust as well as practical measures to boost co-operation in investment, trade and technology transfer.
Minh asked Lee and the RoK government to find effective ways to balance two-way trade and lift it to US$100 billion by 2020, while encouraging RoK businesses to increase investments and take part in infrastructure development, equitisation of State-owned enterprises and restructuring of commercial banks in Việt Nam.
He also expressed his wish that the RoK government supports overseas Vietnamese who are working, living and studying in the RoK.
Lee pledged to direct RoK agencies to increase co-operation with Vietnamese partners to expand co-operation areas in the future.
Also on December 21, Minh held talks with RoK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, during which they discussed specific measures to take their strategic co-operative partnership to new heights.
They agreed to effectively deploy existing co-operation mechanisms and organise soon a strategic dialogue on diplomacy, security and defence at the deputy foreign minister level.
The two officials also agreed on measures to develop bilateral trade in a stable and balanced manner, while working closely to implement the framework agreement on a $1.5 billion credit package from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) signed in November 2017 and a $12 billion credit programme under financial co-operation. They pledged to continue bolstering co-operation in culture, education, health and people-to-people exchanges.
Minh applauded RoK investors for investing in hi-tech, smart agriculture and infrastructure in Việt Nam. He requested the RoK government to continue providing Việt Nam with non-refundable aid, technical assistance and preferential ODA to develop infrastructure projects.
He also asked for the RoK’s help with bomb and mine clearance, and increased acceptance of Vietnamese workers.
Kang applauded Minh’s proposals and hoped that the Government of Việt Nam will create optimal conditions for RoK firms to participate in large projects like the Long Thành International Airport, the metro project in HCM City, and the North-South Expressway.
He promised that the Foreign Ministry and other agencies of the RoK will continue co-ordinating closely with their Vietnamese counterparts in taking practical measures to enhance the strategic co-operative partnership between the two countries.
The two ministers also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. Minh reiterated Việt Nam’s consistent policy of supporting peace, stability and denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula.
Following the talks, the ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between the two ministries of foreign affairs.
On the same day, Minh held a dialogue with leaders of 20 leading groups in the RoK including Samsung, Hyundai, Lotte, Kumho, Hanwha, Hyosung, LG and Korea Eximbank.
The business leaders inquired about Việt Nam’s policies and institutions in investment, trade, tax and banking, and suggested that the country continue creating favourable conditions for RoK investors to expand production and business operations in Việt Nam.
Minh highlighted the country’s investment and business potential for RoK firms and spoke about Việt Nam’s policies and regulations in various fields.
He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will continue offering optimal conditions for RoK investors to do business effectively in the country. — VNS