Hanoi (VNA) – Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), visited the Republic of Korea (RoK) from September 22 - 24 to advance the Party’s strategic orientations on establishing new growth models in the era of transformation, while also concretising the outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to the RoK in August.
On September 23, Thang, who is also Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representative offices in Seoul. He updated them on Vietnam’s socio-economic development, praised their efforts in strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with the RoK, and encouraged them to remain a strong bridge between the two nations and their people.
He noted that the visit came shortly after Vietnam celebrated the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025), and the national conference to implement four major Politburo resolutions on international integration, energy security, education and training reforms, and public healthcare.
Thang expressed his hope that the visit would give fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation, especially in high technology and education, while also benefiting the Vietnamese community in the RoK.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho briefed the delegation on the embassy’s affairs, highlighting trade and investment as bright spots in the bilateral relations. He said the embassy has supported businesses from both countries while promoting cultural diplomacy and external communication to deepen mutual understanding and secure greater support for Vietnam’s positions on regional and international issues.
Vietnamese in the RoK now form one of the world's largest overseas Vietnamese communities, and the embassy has continued to play a central role in citizen protection, consular affairs, and fostering solidarity among expatriates.
During the trip, Thang also met with Park Cheol Hee, Chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA); Lim Chae Won, President of the National Human Resources Development Institute (NHI); leaders of Samsung Group; and attended the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam–Samsung Global Leadership Programme (VOSP).
At KNDA, both sides spoke highly of the unprecedented political trust in the bilateral ties. They agreed to effectively implement their memorandum of understanding, including a high-level Vietnam–RoK forum and joint studies on strategic security, peace, and development in the current global context.
At NHI, the two sides reviewed more than 15 years of cooperation in training mid- and high-level Vietnamese officials under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) programmes. Thang highly evaluated the partnership in capacity building, while Lim affirmed NHI’s commitment to continue training programs, especially in areas of digital transformation, green growth, and sustainable development.
The delegation also toured Samsung’s Data Systems (SDS) Centre, which employs over 25,000 staff worldwide, including more than 2,000 in Vietnam. Thang praised Samsung’s breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and data technologies, and encouraged closer collaboration with Vietnam’s AI ecosystem.
At the ceremony marking a decade of the VOSP programme, which was designed to enhance leadership knowledge for Vietnamese officials in cooperation with Samsung, Thang emphasised the importance of human resources and innovation. He noted that the programme has strengthened ties between institutions, localities, and businesses of both countries, contributing to the deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
The successful visit reaffirmed the determination of both sides to expand cooperation in science, advanced technology, innovation, education, and policy research, further reinforcing the Vietnam–RoK comprehensive strategic partnership in the new development era./.
