Party General Secretary Tô Lâm met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul, as well as members of the Vietnamese community in the Republic of Korea. VNA/VNS Photo

SEOUL - Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, accompanied by his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation, on Sunday met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul, as well as members of the Vietnamese community in the Republic of Korea (RoK) as part of the leader's ongoing state visit to the RoK.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vũ Hồ briefed the General Secretary on the embassy’s recent activities, the Việt Nam-RoK ties, and matters concerning the community in the host country.

He noted that the community upholds strong traditions of unity, mutual support, and cultural identity, while maintaining close ties with their homeland. They have actively contributed to Việt Nam’s development and national defence, serving as a bridge in strengthening Việt Nam–RoK friendship, he said.

Many Vietnamese in the RoK have made valuable contributions to local society, earning recognition from the RoK Government. The embassy and other representative offices have worked closely with relevant RoK authorities to advance and implement bilateral cooperation agreements, according to Ambassador Hồ.

Community representatives expressed their strong bond with the homeland and urged the Government to direct ministries to further simplify procedures for citizenship and personal documentation. They also stressed the importance of citizen protection and support for community development.

Addressing the meeting, General Secretary Lâm expressed his pleasure at meeting a large number of Vietnamese living and working in the RoK, acknowledging and appreciating their efforts in contributing to the growing Việt Nam–RoK partnership.

He praised the community for preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity abroad, reaffirming that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the nation.

He emphasised that this visit, at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung, is expected to further elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. In upcoming meetings with high-ranking Korean leaders, the Vietnamese side will continue to call on the RoK government to create the most favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to live and work, and contribute more meaningfully to bilateral relations, said the Party chief.

Updating the community on Việt Nam’s recent achievements across key sectors, General Secretary Lâm outlined the Party and State’s strategic directions for the future.

He requested the embassy to take note of all feedback from the community and affirmed that relevant ministries and agencies will be tasked with addressing these concerns appropriately. — VNS