Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have reached consensus on anumber of measures to further deepen the two countries’ strategicpartnership in the near future.
The agreement wasreached at the talks between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the RoK's President Lee Myung-bak in Seoul on Mar. 28.
Thetwo leaders agreed to continue the exchange of delegations andhigh-ranking leaders to enhance trust and mutual understanding, increasedialogue and practical cooperation in diplomacy, national defence andsecurity, and work closely together to host activities to mark Vietnam –RoK Friendship Year, strengthening friendship and cooperation betweenthe two peoples.
In addition to deepeningcooperation in trade and investment, the two sides consented togradually reduce Vietnam’s trade surplus from the RoK, and promptly completeprocedures to launch negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement.
The RoK considers Vietnam as the leading partner in development and investment, Lee said.
He added that the RoK will consider Vietnam’s cooperative proposals ontrade, development assistance, science and technology, education andtraining, transport, agriculture and construction, including a projecton building an express railway linking HCM City and Can Tho city, ahi-tech park in Can Tho city and expanding the National Highway linkingthe north and the south.
They agreed to continueenhancing cooperation in labour and vocational training, dealing withrelevant issues and providing support and protection for OverseasVietnamese, including the community of Vietnamese brides in the RoK.
Both sides also agreed to work closely at international forums.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandumof understanding on cooperation between the Vietnamese Finance Ministryand the RoK Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the construction of ahi-tech park and a cooperative agreement between the Vietnamese Ministryof Industry and Trade and the RoK Ministry of Knowledge Economy oncooperating in developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.-VNA