Busan (VNA) – Party General Secretary To Lam has asked the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Busan city to broaden ties with Vietnamese provinces and cities, support expanded investment in such priority sectors as science-technology, satellite urban development, logistics, and tourism.
Hosting a reception for Busan Mayor Park Hyeong Joon on August 13 as part of his onging state visit to the East Asian country, Party chief Lam briefed his guest on the high-level talks with President Lee Jae Myung, during which the two leaders concurred to support and stand ready to facilitate cooperation between localities of both sides.
He described this as a strategic opportunity for Busan and Vietnamese cities and provinces to elevate their substantive cooperation, suggesting the Korean city to share development models and smart port operation system to be located in one of Vietnam’s key coastal economic zones, while seeking enhanced connectivity and assistance for Vietnam’s film industry. The Party leader took the occasion to congratulate the city on its remarkable development achievements, having become the RoK’s second-largest economic hub and the world's fifth-largest port city. He also highlighted Busan's unique geographical proximity to Vietnam and its excellent relations with Vietnamese localities.
Mayor Park, for his part, affirmed Busan’s critical role in advancing economic ties with Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam as a whole, stressing Busan’s commitment to closer collaboration with the Vietnamese southern economic hub so as to transform Busan into a global administrative hub.
Welcoming Party chief Lam’s suggestions, he pledged that Busan will continue to work closely with Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese localities to promote substantive collaboration in areas where the two sides boast complementary strengths, contributing to concretising the agreements reached by high-ranking leaders of both sides.
He also confirmed the city’s readiness to support the activities of the newly established Vietnamese Consulate General and to implement policies that protect the legitimate rights of the Vietnamese citizens in the city, ensuring their continued contributions to Busan’s development as well as their bridging role to nurture the Vietnam – RoK friendship./.
