Seoul (VNA) – During Party General Secretary To Lam’s recently-concluded state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan penned an article, published in Hankookilbo on August 13, titled “When the miracles of the Han River and the Red River meet.”
The article describes Vietnam, with a population of over 100 million and an average age above 32, as a “young country” that has achieved remarkable growth since its 1986 Doi Moi (Renewal) reforms. In 2024, GDP grew over 7%, while Hanoi’s Red River Delta was transformed from farmland into an export gateway, creating the “Miracle of the Red River,” compared to the RoK’s own “Miracle ofthe Han River.”
Vietnam is the RoK’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US, with trade reaching 86.7 billion USD in 2024. More than 10,000 Korean companies operate in Vietnam, contributing to its manufacturing, services, and energy sectors. The RoK is also Vietnam’s top foreign investor, with strong tourism and cultural exchanges.
The article highlighted the importance of General Secretary Lam’s state visit - the first by a Vietnamese Party chief in 11 years and the first state guest under the new Korean administration. At a 500-strong business forum, both sides agreed to expand cooperation in energy, supply chains, advanced industries, and digital technology, the article said, describing the two nations as “strategic partners for shared growth.”
The article outlines future cooperation priorities, including upgrading collaboration structures, training in electrical and electronic production, and joint shipbuilding projects to integrate Vietnamese firms into Korean global supply chains. Energy cooperation will be enhanced, covering LNG, renewables, nuclear power, and a sustainable resource partnership involving rare earths and graphite. Bilateral cooperation will extend to ASEAN, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, while summit diplomacy and joint committees will work to ease business obstacles.
The minister concluded that the Han and Red Rivers - each with its historic miracle - should now converge on a “sea of prosperity,” with both nations setting sail together toward industrial growth, energy advancement, and technological innovation./.
