The Republic of Korea investor community in Vietnam appreciates Vietnam’s quick and effective response to recent disturbances, RoK’s First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong told Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on May 29.

He said RoK firms have strong confidence in the Vietnamese Government’s capability in maintaining a stable investment and business environment for foreign investors, including those from his country.

In regard to the East Sea issue, Cho stressed the RoK is concerned about the recent tensions in the East Sea, thus the country hopes concerned parties solve disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Minh affirmed that the Vietnamese Government attaches importance to developing its ties with the RoK.

He said economic cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK significantly contributes to both countries’ development, and reiterated that Vietnam will continue creating favourable conditions for RoK businesses to effectively and stably operate in Vietnam.

Minh expressed his hope that the two sides will complete the negotiation on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement within this year.

He took the occasion to ask the RoK to facilitate Vietnam’s goods, especially farm products and fresh fruits to easily access its market, thus contributing to two-way trade.

Minh also urged the two countries’ ministries of labour to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment Permit System (EPS) programme as soon as possible.

The two sides spoke highly of the Mekong-RoK cooperative mechanism and agree to enhance their coordination at regional and international forums.

Deputy PM and FM Minh also underlined Vietnam’s consistent stance of supporting a peaceful, stable and de-nuclearised Korean Peninsula.-VNA