Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 21 received the Minister of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Paik Hee Young in Hanoi.

PM Dung said that the RoK minister’s visit would contribute to developing an effective and practical relationship between the two nations and expressed his desire that the Vietnam-RoK strategic partnership would grow stronger in all areas.

Similarities in culture would make foundations to promote the bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment, he said.

Speaking highly of agreements in gender equality and women empowerment, the PM affirmed that the Vietnamese government would create favorable conditions for the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and Vietnam’s Women Union (VWU) to implement them.

He also welcomed the support of the ministry for Vietnamese multicultural families living in the RoK and suggested the RoK government continue to protect the legal marriages of Vietnamese brides in the country.

Minister Peik Hee Young said that the signed memorandas of understanding with MoLISA and the VWU would serve as basis for the two countries to constantly promote cooperation in this field in the future.

The ministry was carrying out many programmes to help Vietnamese multicultural families such as teaching Korean language, its traditions and customs. The RoK government is also making policy to prevent the commercialisation of marriages and plans spend some budgets to support the lives of Vietnamese brides and their families in the country, she added.

At present, there are 90,000 Vietnamese in the RoK, of which 30,000 are Vietnamese brides, she said.