Vietnamese NA ready to boost ties with RoK’s legislature

 

Antalya (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has said the Vietnamese legislature is ready to further boost friendship and cooperation with the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK).

She made the statement during a meeting with Speaker of the RoK’s NA Moon Hee-sang on the sidelines of the third meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments (MSEAP) in the Turkish city of Antalya on October 9.

She thanked the RoK for sending condolences and a high-ranking delegation led by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon to the state funeral of President Tran Dai Quang.

Expressing delight at the development of the Vietnam – RoK ties since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations on December 22, 1992, Ngan said both sides have become partners of top importance in diverse areas.

The top legislator welcomed the RoK’s “New Southern Policy” that facilitates ties with ASEAN countries with a focus on Vietnam, affirming that the country is ready to serve as a bridge to boost all-around links between the RoK and the grouping.

She called for efforts to reinforce joint work under agreements reached by the two nations’ leaders and the Vietnam – RoK Joint Statement 2018 signed during the RoK President’s visit to Vietnam, with parliamentary cooperation as an important channel.

Ngan wished that the two legislatures would work more closely together to promote ties between the two States and peoples, and offer mutual support at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Moon, for his part, said the State visit to Vietnam in March 2018 by President Moon Jae-in proves that the RoK attaches importance to its ties with Vietnam and other ASEAN member states, during which both sides vowed to lift two-way trade to 100 billion USD by 2020 in a more balanced and sustainable way.

He said the RoK considers Vietnam a priority in its strategy of cooperation with Southeast Asian nations, adding that in order to support such initiative, the RoK legislature has set up the ASEAN – RoK Inter-Parliamentary Forum.

The RoK is now the second largest supplier of official development assistance and the second largest investor of Vietnam. Bilateral collaboration across national defence-security, education-training, labour, culture, sports has been expanded. The more than 160,000 citizens living and working in each side and the over 60,000 RoK – Vietnam multicultural families are serving as a bridge for bilateral friendship.

Over the past years, the RoK has also provided solutions to build e-government in Vietnam and worked with the country to increase flights between the two nations.

On this occasion, Chairwoman Ngan invited Speaker Moon to pay an official visit to Vietnam.-VNA