Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (L) meets RoK PM Lee Nak-yeon in Seoul on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

SEOUL — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said that Việt Nam attaches importance to cooperation with the Republic of Korea (RoK), and stands ready to serve as a bridge to further promote ASEAN – RoK and Mekong – RoK cooperation frameworks.

During a meeting with RoK counterpart Lee Nak-yeon in Seoul on Thursday, PM Phúc congratulated the RoK on successfully holding the 30th ASEAN – RoK Commemorative Summit and the first Mekong – RoK Summit.

PM Phúc hoped the RoK would continue assisting Việt Nam in bomb and mine clearance, as well as dealing with the war consequences. He asked they also complete the risk analysis process to open the market for Vietnamese farm produce, towards the goal of US$100 billion in two-way trade.

He suggested that the RoK government encourage Korean firms to transfer technology and engage in Việt Nam’s key energy and infrastructure projects, and share experience in information technology such as 5G network, e-government development and online public services.

The PM also called on the RoK to consider relaxing and finally removing some conditions for loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund.

He said he wished the Korean government, people and mass organisations would continue helping the Vietnamese community in the RoK, especially Việt Nam – RoK multicultural families, to stabilise their lives, contributing to local socio-economic development and reinforcing friendship between the two countries’ people.

PM Lee affirmed the RoK’s policy of extending cooperation with Việt Nam, and vowed to further enhance bilateral ties in a wide range of areas.

The RoK will take measures to protect legitimate rights and interests of children of Việt Nam – RoK multicultural families, help them to inherit the cultures and languages of both nations, and make it easier for them to become global citizens, he said.

Host and guest promised to effectively make use of existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms, expand people-to-people exchange, and work closely together on regional and global issues.

On regional and global situation, the two PMs shared the awareness about the significance of maintaining peace, stability, respect for law in the region, and of settling disputes by peaceful means and dialogues in line with international law.

Meeting with NA leader

On the same day, PM Phúc met Speaker of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s National Assembly Moon Hee-sang, who said the parliament has high consensus on the continued enhancement of all-round relations with Việt Nam.

Both host and guest expressed their delight at the strong and fruitful growth of bilateral ties, which they said have turned their countries into members of a family and leading partners of each other.

The RoK parliament speaker said on the basis of the achievements obtained so far, the two countries should keep strengthening mutual trust and understanding, and further cooperate to develop their strategic cooperative partnership more extensively and practically in all spheres, including politics, diplomacy, security, defence, economy, trade, investment, science, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange, as well as in regional and international issues.

PM Phúc praised the sound cooperation between the Vietnamese and RoK parliaments.

He highly valued the support that the RoK’s National Assembly and parliamentarians, including the speaker and the RoK-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, have given to Việt Nam and the two nations’ relations.

He voiced his hope that they will continue supporting the countries’ governments, businesses and people to expand cooperation.

Moon expressed his wish to further intensify relations between the legislatures, their agencies and parliamentarians, and better bring into play the role of parliamentary friendship groups in each country. — VNS