Upgrading of Vietnam-RoK relations opens up prospects for stronger cooperation

Seoul (VNA) – The upgrading of the Vietnam-Republic of Korea relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership is a new milestone in bilateral ties, according to diplomats and experts on Vietnam-RoK ties.
         
Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tung said the elevation of bilateral relations not only reflects and acknowledges the great achievements in bilateral ties over the past 30 years, but also demonstrates the political will and strategic vision of leaders of the two countries, creating a framework and defining the orientation for the development of bilateral ties in the time ahead.

The move also contributes to strengthening trust and deepening shared interests between Vietnam and the RoK, Tung said, affirming that bilateral ties will see stronger development across the fields, first of all politics, diplomacy and security-defence, secondly economy (trade and investment) in both traditional and new aspects, and thirdly cultural-social and people-to-people exchanges, especially labourers, students and tourists.

The diplomat held that the upgraded ties also brings more opportunities for the two countries to bolster cooperation in multilateral forums, particularly the ASEAN and the UN.

Prof Lee Han-woo from Sogang University expressed his joy at the elevation of Vietnam-RoK ties and said cultural exchanges should be further promoted, particularly between young generations of the two countries.

He noted that Korean culture has become widely known in Vietnam, but it is not the case with Vietnamese culture in the RoK, and expressed a hope that a Vietnamese cultural centre will soon be opened in the RoK.        

Meanwhile, Prof. Park Bun-soon from the Korea University pointed to some outstanding issues in bilateral relations, first of all Vietnam’s big trade deficit with the RoK. He said the problem should be considered in a more systematic manner now that bilateral relations have been lifted, suggesting that the RoK could import more agricultural and fishery products from Vietnam, and RoK enterprises operating in Vietnam should consider buying more materials for their production.

He also held that despite RoK enterprises’ great investment in Vietnam, the transfer of advanced technology to Vietnam has not met expectation. The scholar proposed that the State should regulate this field as it is not easy for enterprises to share their technology which is the key to competition. On the Vietnamese side, the professor said the country should invest more in research and development (R&D) and research institutes, and direct ODA capital into this field.

Park went on to say that Vietnam has good capacity in information technology but the RoK has not noticed this fact. He urged the two countries to discuss further cooperation in this field./.