Deputy PM urges stronger Vietnam-RoK cooperation

 

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has suggested that Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) should promote cooperation in all fields, including defence, security, economy, e-commerce, labour, innovation and creativity towards the target of 100 billion USD in two-way trade by 2020.

During a reception in Hanoi on December 26 for Korean Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu, who is also head of SOM ASEAN of the RoK, Minh spoke highly of the positive development of ASEAN- RoK ties over the past years, affirming that Vietnam and ASEAN treasure relations with the RoK and hoping that both sides will continue stepping up their practical and effective ties for the sake of peace and prosperity in the region.

Towards the 30th founding anniversary of ASEAN-RoK dialogue relations in 2019, Minh stressed that Vietnam supports the organisation of the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit and will work closely with ASEAN member states to ensure its success.

He also expected that Vietnam would continue receiving the RoK’s support as the country will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

Yoon, for his part, affirmed that the RoK values ties with Vietnam and ASEAN in general. He highlighted Vietnam’s importance in the implementation of the New Southern Policy of Korean President Moon Jae-in and in the development of relations between the RoK and ASEAN nations.

According to statistics, Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in two-way trade, investment and people-to-people exchange with the RoK.

He expressed hope that Vietnam will continue boosting bilateral ties with the RoK via multilateral mechanisms such as the ASEAN-RoK, Mekong-RoK and joint work with the RoK in regional issues of shared concern.

Earlier, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and head of SOM ASEAN Nguyen Quoc Dung held a working session with the Korean delegation.

Dung said Vietnam in particular and ASEAN in general attach importance to the initiative to hold the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit, considering it an important milestone in the relationship with the RoK and a practical contribution to building an East Asia region of peace, stability and prosperity.

He pledged to work with other ASEAN states to realize these initiatives, thereby further enhancing ASEAN-RoK relations.

Yoon talked about preparations for the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit scheduled to take place in late 2019 in the RoK, saying that a series of events within its framework will afford both sides a chance to outline orientations for the development of bilateral ties in the future.-VNA