SEOUL — Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng and the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon agreed on measures to enhance mutual trust and understanding between Việt Nam and the RoK, boosting the bilateral relationship in a more effective and comprehensive manner.

They reached the consensus during their meeting on Monday as part of the Vietnamese Deputy PM’s five-day visit to the RoK, starting from Sunday.

The two sides consented to maintain regular high-level visits and meetings, and step up result-oriented co-operation in such areas as diplomacy, national defence and security.

They will also strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, aiming to bring two-way trade to US$100 billion by 2020.

Deputy PM Dũng highly appreciated the RoK’s consideration of Việt Nam as the top priority in its New Southern Policy and said Việt Nam will continue to treasure its relations with the RoK.

He suggested the two sides bolster their coordination in order to create conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products to access and gain a firm foothold in the RoK market; improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods; support Vietnamese startups; intensify technological transfer; and develop Việt Nam’s support industry in an effort to reduce its trade deficit with the RoK.

The official called on the RoK to continue with its non-refundable aid as well as development and preferential credits to Việt Nam, while effectively implementing labour agreements between the two sides.

Dũng lauded the RoK’s investment projects in Việtt Nam, as well as Korean businesses’ increased investment in spheres like support industry, auto manufacturing, electronics and semi-conducting, energy and renewable energy, infrastructure development in industrial parks, smart city building, and agricultural modernisation.

The Vietnamese Government stands ready to create the best possible conditions for RoK enterprises to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects through the public-private partnership (PPP) model, such as the North-South Expressway, and participate in the equitisation and divestment of State-owned enterprises, he stressed.

Dũng applauded the RoK Government’s facilitation of visa grants to Vietnamese citizens and appealed to the Koreans to pay more attention and provide further support towards ensuring the rights and interests of Vietnamese in the country, especially Vietnamese nationals married to local spouses.

PM Lee Nak-yeon said Dũng’s visit is crucial to promoting the bilateral relationship and praised the co-operation achievements the two countries have recorded in the 26 years since diplomatic ties were set up.

The RoK Government attaches importance to the strategic cooperative partnership with Việt Nam, he said, noting that he will instruct relevant ministries and agencies of the RoK to successfully realise agreements reached by the two countries, in order to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new height.

The same day, Deputy PM Dũng hosted a reception for Chairman of the RoK’s ruling Democratic Party (DP) Lee Hae-chan, during which he thanked the Korean party for supporting the development of the win-win relations with Việt Nam. He hoped the party will continue its assistance in bolstering Việt Nam-RoK ties, with a focus on enhancing co-operation between the two parties and considering the signing of collaboration deals.

Lee stressed that he and the DP have always treasured and will further their relations with the Communist Party of Việt Nam, contributing to strengthening bonds between the two nations.

Receiving President of the Korea Foundation Lee Si-hyung, Dũng spoke highly of the foundation’s implementation of the Next Generation Leaders Programme and several other cultural exchange programmes. He suggested that the organisation expand its co-operation with Việt Nam in the time ahead.

Lee said he will maintain and design more programmes for Vietnamese officials at all levels to study and exchange development experience in the East Asian country.

Dũng also visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with the Vietnamese community in the RoK. Lauding the contributions made by Vietnamese nationals towards developing relations with the RoK, he underlined that the Vietnamese Party and Government always see overseas Vietnamese as an integral part of Việt Nam, who have played an important part in fostering co-operation and friendship between Việt Nam and foreign countries across the five continents, including the RoK.

Working with Vietnamese scientists who are working and studying in the RoK, Dũng said that the scientists have played a starring role in helping the homeland catch up with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He noted that the Party and Government have worked to complete the legal framework, facilitate Vietnamese scientists’ activities in foreign countries and attract international experts to join sci-tech activities in Việt Nam.

“The Party and Government want to work alongside young scientists who not only hold the potential of the future, but are the best resources at present and the prospective owners of the country,” he added. — VNS