Hanoi (VNA) - The National Assemblies of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on November 20 agreed to continue strengthening political trust, maintaining regular high-level delegation exchanges, and creating a solid foundation for expanding comprehensive cooperation across all fields.
The two sides also concurred on enhancing defence and security cooperation, as well as sharing experience and supporting each other in addressing non-traditional security challenges and transnational crime.
The consensus was reached during talks between National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Speaker of the RoK National Assembly Woo Won Shik, following a grand welcome ceremony for the Korean guest.
Chairman Man congratulated the RoK on its outstanding development achievements in recent years, especially the successful organisation of APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2025 in Gyeongju. He also commended the country’s timely policy directions focused on “fair growth” and “technological transformation,” which aim to strengthen national competitiveness and usher the country into a new development stage.
Congratulating Vietnam on its significant accomplishments in national development, Speaker Woo expressed confidence that under the sound leadership of Vietnamese leaders, the country will continue to grow strongly, enhance its international standing, and attain important achievements.
He emphasised that the RoK remains Vietnam’s largest foreign investor and third-largest trading partner, noting that both sides recorded five million reciprocal visits in 2024. He said the two countries, sharing many cultural similarities, have become each other’s leading economic partners, and enjoy an inseparable relationship.
The legislative leaders welcomed the positive progress in Vietnam-RoK relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. They highlighted parliamentary diplomacy as an outstanding bright spot and an important channel for overseeing the implementation of high-level agreements, sharing legislative experience, and enhancing mutual understanding between lawmakers and citizens of the two countries.
Both sides agreed to promote more effective economic cooperation in line with their common interests and to strive for the goal of raising two-way trade to 150 billion USD by 2030. They also pledged to expand cooperation in industry, energy, and technology transfer to serve shared development goals. Speaker Woo expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue to facilitate and support Korean enterprises, enabling them to invest with confidence and long-term stability.
Building on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in human resource development, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges to further strengthen bonds between their citizens. Chairman Man thanked the Korean side and requested continued attention to the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese community in the RoK, including around 100,000 Vietnamese–Korean multicultural families, so they can live, study, and work stably in the long term.
Host and guest highly valued the positive outcomes of parliamentary cooperation in recent years and agreed to effectively implement the new Memorandum of Understanding signed during the visit. They will maintain regular exchanges of high-level delegations to share legislative experience, improve the legal framework for sustainable development, and enhance the role of both legislatures in overseeing the implementation of international treaties and bilateral agreements.
They also agreed to strengthen cooperation through parliamentary friendship groups and continue working closely and supporting each other at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums, including the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and agreed to maintain close coordination to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Following the talks, Chairman Man and Speaker Woo signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two legislatures. The Korean delegation also observed the 10th session of Vietnam’s 15th NA.
Later the same day, Chairman Man hosted a banquet in honour of the high-level delegation of the Korean NA./.
