Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh yesterday spoke on the phone with the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha at the request of the South Korean side.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh yesterday spoke on the phone with the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha at the request of the South Korean side.

The pair discussed bilateral co-operation between the two countries and the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Minh said Việt Nam had informed South Korea before making its decision to temporarily suspend unilateral visa exemptions for nationals of South Korea, which takes effect today.

"The suspension of the visa-waiver programme is part of the Vietnamese Government’s measures to strengthen containment of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Under the decision, Koreans holding ordinary passports with valid Vietnamese visas are allowed to enter Việt Nam,” said Deputy PM, FM Minh.

He suggested the Republic of Korea co-ordinate closely with Việt Nam in the fight against the epidemic and support nationals and businesses in each other's countries. Minh also expected both countries will maintain economic and trade co-operation.

RoK Foreign Minister Kang briefed Minh on the South Korean government’s efforts to cope with the COVID-19 epidemic.

“The Republic of Korea will provide free health care for Vietnamese nationals in the nation in accordance with the World Health Organization’s standards,” Kang said. — VNS