VN, RoK deepen strategic partnership

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (L) and RoK President Lee Myung-bak, Seoul, March 28, 2012 – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and RoK President Lee Myung-bak made the agreement on March 28 during their talks, which forms part of the former’s official visit to the East Asian country after attending the 2nd Nuclear Security Summit there. 

President Lee Myung-bak warmly welcomed the visit of PM Dũng especially when the two countries are celebrating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2012.  

The two leaders expressed their pleasure and satisfaction at the developments in the two countries’ ties and exchanged views on key orientations to beef up the strategic partnership.

The two sides agreed to maintain reciprocal high-level visits to consolidate and enhance mutual trust; boost diplomatic, security and defense dialogues and organize the Việt Nam-RoK Friendship Year 2012.

They approved of closer linkages in economics, trade and investment as well as efforts to gradually reduce Việt Nam’s trade deficit with the RoK.

Both sides also agreed to early finalize necessary procedures to kick off negotiations for a free trade agreement.

The RoK President said his country continues to regard Việt Nam as one of its leading partners in development and investment cooperation, especially through projects on the express railway linking Hồ Chí Minh and Cần Thơ Cities, construction of a technology incubator in Cần Thơ City and the North-South highway. 

Regarding labor and vocational training, the two sides would collaborate in assisting immigrants, particularly Vietnamese girls who get married to Korean men.

They agreed to closely work with each other at international forms.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (L) and RoK President Lee Myung-bak witness the signing ceremonies between Việt Nam and the RoK,  Seoul, March 28, 2012 – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

After the talks, PM Dũng and President Lee Myung-bak witnessed the signing of some documents including the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on development cooperation in finance between the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance and the RoK Ministry of Strategy and Finance; the MoU on construction of technology incubator; an agreement on nuclear energy development for peaceful purposes between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the KoK National Intelligence Service.

The same day, PM Dũng received some leaders of Korean businesses./.

By Kim Loan