Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem held separate talks with his counterparts from Mongolia, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) who have been in Hanoi to attend ASEAN related meetings on July 24.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Gombojav Zandanshatar affirmed that Mongolia attaches importance to ties with Vietnam and wishes to further increase cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

He asked for Vietnam’s support to Mongolia’s participation in APEC’s activities as well as increasing cooperation with ASEAN.

The Mongolian diplomat requested that the two countries boost defense cooperation in the future.

He also informed of the Mongolian National Assembly Chairman’s visit to Vietnam by the year-end.

FM Khiem, who doubled as Deputy Prime Minister, welcomed Mongolian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s attendance at and contribution to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

He suggested that the two countries increase delegation exchanges and education cooperation.

He said he hoped that the Mongolian government and foreign ministry would facilitate Vietnamese community in Mongolia as well as the establishment of a Vietnamese business association in the country.

At the upcoming 14th session of the Vietnam-Mongolia intergovernmental committee, the two sides need to discuss measures to tap each country’s potential to boost economic and trade cooperation, Khiem said.

Talking with RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung Hwan, Deputy PM and FM Khiem welcomed RoK’s positive participation at the ASEAN+ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ARF, which contributed to boost ASEAN-RoK comprehensive cooperative partnership.

The two sides pleased at the important developments in bilateral relations since Vietnam and RoK set up their strategic cooperative partnership last October.

They agreed to boost high-ranking visits, well prepare for the first foreign affair-security and defence strategic dialogue at the deputy ministerial level and implement the results of the 12th session of the intergovernmental committee on economic and science-technology cooperation.

The two countries would also enhance trade exchange to increase bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD by 2015.

RoK pledged to continue to facilitate Vietnam’s exports, increase ODA provision and investment into Vietnam as well as receive more Vietnamese labourers.

Both countries will increase people-to-people exchanges and expand cooperation in culture, arts and sports.

Both sides also agreed that the two countries’ ministries and sectors should enhance cooperation and pay more attention to assisting and protecting their people, especially Vietnamese brides and workers in the RoK.

Minister Yu Myung Hwan expressed the RoK President, Government and Foreign Ministry’s sympathy over the murder of Vietnamese bride Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc.

The RoK Government would strictly handle the case, soon modify regulations relating to foreign-related marriages and increase the management and supervision of marriage brokerage to avoid such cases, he confirmed.

Deputy PM cum FM Khiem thanked the RoK government leaders for their timely activities  and welcomed their solutions to the issue.

Both host and guest exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

At the talks with the DPRK’s Foreign Minister, Deputy PM and FM Khiem affirmed that the Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to increase the friendly cooperation with the DPRK.

Khiem welcomed the DPRK minister’s visit to Vietnam and his attendance at the ARF-17, emphasising the significance of the visit when the two countries are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, thus contributing to the conference’s success and the further development of their traditional friendship.

He also hailed the exchanges of ministries and sectors’ delegations to boost mutual understanding and active seeking of suitable measures and forms to make bilateral economic, trade, cultural and sport cooperation match with each country’s potentials and conditions.

Both sides expressed their delight at new developments in bilateral cooperation, especially after the DPRK’s visit by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in October 2007.

Minister Pac Ui Chun said it is necessary to further promote the two countries’ cooperation in politics, economics and diplomacy.

The DPRK wants Vietnamese businesses to increase their cooperation and investment in the country and the two foreign ministries to promote their roles in boosting bilateral ties as well as their coordination in international and regional issues./.