State President Nguyen Minh Triet on Oct. 12 stressed that Vietnam wishes to strengthen and expand all-round cooperation with the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Receiving the RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Yu Myung-hwan, in Hanoi, President Triet said he believed that the upcoming Vietnam visit by RoK President Lee Myung-bak would be an important event helping to enhance Vietnam-RoK relations in future.

RoK Minister Yu said the development of two-way ties has made many great strides forward. Attesting to their fine relations, the two countries raised two-way trade to 10 billion USD and the RoK now ranks among Vietnam’s top investors with over 16 billion USD poured into the country.

Praising Vietnam’s rapid economic growth over recent years, Minister Yu said his country wants to expand its cooperation with Vietnam , both bilaterally and multilaterally, at regional and international forums, particularly with the RoK’s chairmanship of the next G-20 summit, and Vietnam’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2010.

Minister Yu said the RoK wants to discuss concrete measures to enhance joint efforts with Vietnam during RoK President Lee’s future visit.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, during his reception to the RoK Minister the same day also, stressed that Vietnam would exert efforts together with the RoK to develop the two countries’ strategic partnership. The PM expressed his delight at the development of relations in politics, and economics, as well as in the fields of society and culture, since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1992.

Especially after the PM’s visit to the RoK and attendance at the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit in June 2009, the two countries have reached a consensus to develop their comprehensive partnership into a strategic cooperation partnership for the two countries’ prosperity and for peace and stability in the region.

PM Dung said Vietnam considered the RoK one of its key partners and wished the two countries would exert more efforts to deepen the friendship.

Minister Yu said President Lee attached importance to building stronger links with Vietnam and wants to visit Vietnam specifically to boost bilateral ties.

During his two-day visit, the RoK Minister held talks with Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem. The two officials agreed that it is necessary to increase visits and exchanges between the two countries’ leaders in order to increase trust and mutual understanding.

They spent time discussing the upcoming Vietnam visit by RoK President Lee and some regional and international issues of common concern./.