Seoul (VNA) – Party General Secretary To Lam met with Chairman of the Republic of Korea (RoK)–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul on August 10 as part of his state visit to the RoK.
The Vietnamese leader congratulated Ahn on his appointment as Minister of National Defence, and said he believed that Ahn, in his dual capacity as Defence Minister and Chairman of the RoK–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, will make further contributions to advancing the Vietnam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a substantive and effective manner.
General Secretary Lam expressed his joy with the sound growth of bilateral ties across all fields, as well as active cooperation between the two legislatures and the longstanding friendly exchanges between the two parliamentary friendship groups, which have significantly contributed to the comprehensive development of bilateral relations. He said on its development path, Vietnam wishes to strengthen cooperation with countries, including the RoK, one of its top strategic partners.
He called on the two friendship groups to enhance exchanges and cooperation, and to fully leverage their role as bridges in line with the cooperation agreement between the two legislatures, contributing to overseeing and facilitating legal conditions for the implementation of signed agreements. He urged them to strengthen coordination and mutual support at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums. He thanked the RoK National Assembly and expressed his hope that it will continue supporting activities of the Vietnamese community in the country.
For his part, Ahn expressed his admiration for Vietnam and its people, and his respect for General Vo Nguyen Giap. He stressed the need to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the two nations are entering a new development stage.
He affirmed that the RoK National Assembly and the RoK-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group stand ready to work closely with Vietnamese partners to realise development goals in the new era. He pledged to promote inter-parliamentary cooperation, including exchanges between the two parliamentary friendship groups, and affirmed the RoK’s support for Vietnamese students studying in the country.
Recognising the remarkable progress made in more than 30 years of diplomatic ties and the cultural similarities between the two nations, both sides agreed to bolster cooperation in politics–diplomacy, defence–security, culture, sports, and to make science and technology a pillar of their partnership./.
