Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan on August 27 met the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Minister Yoon Byung Se to discuss cooperation in science and technology, education and human resources between the two countries.

The Vietnamese deputy prime minister’s visit was warmly welcome and appreciated by Byung Se, especially as it preceded the upcoming official visit of RoK President Park Geun Hye to Vietnam, which is expected to take place from September 7-11.

FM Yoon Byung Se expressed his hope for further cooperation between the two countries in terms of education and science and technology, particularly between the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Vietnam-Korean Institute of Science and Technology (V-KIST).

He affirmed that the RoK would ensure close coordination among relevant State agencies to work towards enhancement of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Byung Se said the RoK, as the world’s fifth leading country on nuclear power technology, would provide intellectual support to Vietnam in the field if requested.

He also appreciated the six measures taken by the Vietnamese government to curb illegal stay by Vietnamese guest workers in the RoK.

On his part, Deputy PM Nhan reaffirmed Vietnam ’s efforts to stop the overstaying of its workers, while urging close cooperation from RoK agencies in charge of the matter.

At the same time, he asked the RoK to consider resuming the recruitment of Vietnamese workers.

The deputy PM proposing stepping up the negotiation process towards the signing of a mutual legal assistance agreement in civil affairs and trade, which would help promote economic cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.

He informed the RoK side of the pre-feasibility study on a project to incorporate Korean language into the curriculum of Vietnam’s schools besides other foreign languages such as English, Chinese, Russian, French and German.

The same day, Deputy PM Nhan visited the Export-Import Bank of Korea, where he witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between three Vietnamese vocational training schools and two RoK partners specialising in car repair and fitness and make-up training.

He also visited the RoK Government Integrated Data Centre (NCIA) and the Institute of Science and Technology.

The deputy PM and his entourage left Seoul for home early August 28, ending a three-day working visit which also included his meetings with RoK Minister of Science, Information and Communications Technology and Future Planning Choi Mun-kee, Minister of Labour and Employment Phang Ha-nam and Minister of Security and Public Administration Yoo Jeong-bok.-VNA