Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Vietnam Park Sun-hwan has said he would do his best to boost cooperation between the two countries in his new capacity as RoK Deputy Foreign Minister.

Ambassador Park made his statement at a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on Feb. 8 on the occasion of his new appointment.

The diplomat said he was recently appointed as RoK Deputy Foreign Minister after taking office in Vietnam as an ambassador nine months ago.

While in the Southeast Asian nation, he promoted bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and investment.

He urged the Vietnamese Government to continue creating conditions for RoK firms’ long-term investment and increase cooperation in education and training.

Prime Minister Dung highly valued Ambassador Park ’s contribution to promoting the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperation partnership in all areas, particularly in trade, investment, labour and education-training.

In 2010, two-way trade rose by 25 percent, PM Dung said, adding the RoK is Vietnam ’s second largest investor with a total capital of 23 billion USD.

Potential for bilateral cooperation is high, he said, urging the two countries to closely work to bring practical benefits for both sides.

He affirmed Vietnam ’s consistent policy to join efforts with the RoK to boost cooperation in areas, for goals of equal cooperation, mutual benefit, contributing to peace, stability and development for the region.

The PM also affirmed the creation of favourable conditions for RoK firms investing in Vietnam and urged the RoK to continue its official development assistance for Vietnam, especially projects set by both sides, and facilitate Vietnamese to work in the northeast Asian country./.