President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit comes at a time when the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the RoK (established in October 2009) is in a stage of good, substantive and effective development with mutual trust and understanding increasingly enhanced.

Building on the cooperation achievements over the past 30 years and looking towards a closer partnership in the future, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President Yoon Suk Yeol both affirmed that Vietnam and the RoK are their respective important partners in all fields and underlined the need to continue promoting closer bilateral cooperation to bring substantive benefits to the two countries’ people.

Over the past three decades, exchanges and meetings between the two countries’ high-ranking leaders have contributed to not only strengthening political trust between the two countries but also fostering cooperation in business, trade, investment, education-training, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange, as well as enhancing coordination at international and regional forums, and in issues of shared interest.

Outlining the orientations for the future, the two leaders affirmed the two countries’ determination to maintain and further foster visits and exchanges between high-ranking leaders in various forms such as bilateral visits, meetings at multilateral conferences, virtual talks and exchanges of letters and messages. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President Yoon Suk Yeol both emphasised the crucial importance of enhancing and deepening exchange and dialogue mechanisms between the agencies of the central governments and local authorities, between parliaments, political parties and organisations of the two countries in promoting and developing the comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two countries' senior leaders agreed to closely coordinate in international and regional forums and mechanisms, in which the two sides participate, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the ASEAN-ROK cooperation mechanism, the forums between Mekong and RoK, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)-run Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP).

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his RoK counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol shared a vision of the central role of ASEAN and solidarity, especially the role of regional mechanisms, in the socio-economic recovery process after the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainable growth, green development and strengthening international links. Vietnam welcomes and appreciates the practical and effective contributions of the RoK and is willing to work closely to promote the sustainable development of the Mekong Sub-region, through the ASEAN-RoK and Mekong-RoK cooperation frameworks.

Sharing on the direction to respond to global challenges, non-traditional security issues, energy security, food security, economic security, and security in the marine environment, the leaders of the two countries highly appreciated the role of close bilateral cooperation; at the same time, setting out orientations to strengthen the general response capacity to emergencies, continuing to coordinate on international issues of mutual concern and interests.

For directions and measures to lift political relations and cooperation in the field of defence and security of the two countries, to a level commensurate with the new relationship framework, in line with the actual situation of the region and the world, leaders of the two countries agreed to further promote cooperation in diplomacy, defence and security, in which implement existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms, and promote concrete results in defence industry cooperation, strengthen cooperation in crime prevention, especially transnational criminals, terrorist organisations, and closely cooperate in handling non-traditional security issues.

The two sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in defence, security and police, by maintaining and effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms between agencies of the Government, enhancing delegation exchange, including the Deputy Ministerial-level Defence Strategic Dialogue, maritime security cooperation, technology cooperation and cooperation promotion in the defence industry, education, training, capacity building, practical training, and law enforcement. In addition, the two countries will strengthen cooperation in the field of peacekeeping; step up coordination in communicating and disseminating the host country's laws to citizens of the two countries, to minimize law violations.

Talking about the world and regional situation, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam consistently supports the implementation of denuclearisation, dialogue and cooperation on the Korean peninsula and is ready to contribute to this process. The two leaders agreed on the necessity of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea/South China Sea and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, as well as resolving disputes over the sea by peaceful means, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of countries following international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, the RoK introduced the Vietnamese high-level delegation to its development policies, strategies and goals, including the Free, Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Strategy, Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, and Global Pivotal State Initiative (GPS). Emphasising that Vietnam is one of the most important partners in the process of implementing multilateral cooperation initiatives, the RoK asked Vietnam to support the hosting of the Busan World Exhibition 2030, with the theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards a Better Future”, and pledged to actively support Vietnam to host the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in 2025.

In an atmosphere of trust, sincerity and openness, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President Yoon Suk Yeol, expressed their joy and pride at the rapid and effective developments in friendship and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries over recent years.

Appreciating the role of culture, sports and tourism exchanges, in enhancing understanding between the two peoples, the two leaders agreed to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges, especially efforts to expand cooperation in tourism, as well as strengthen tourism exchange activities. They also agreed to devote more attention and support to the communities of the two countries to stabilise their lives in each other’s country, especially for future generations of Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families, to play a more active role in youth exchanges between the two countries.

The RoK side affirmed that it will increase interest and support for Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families. The Vietnamese side also affirmed that it will continue to pay attention to and support the development of the Korean community in Vietnam. At the same time, the two sides agreed to make efforts to soon put the signed Vietnam-Korea Social Insurance Agreement into practice, to reduce the economic burden on the people of the two countries, by speeding up the signing of an administrative agreement to implement the social insurance agreement.

Labour cooperation has brought about practical benefits to both Vietnam and the RoK. The two sides agreed to expand fields and new forms of labour cooperation and to strengthen coordination and support so that Vietnamese workers in the RoK can work safely. The RoK side was committed to improving working and living conditions, as well as protecting the rights and interests of Vietnamese workers. The Vietnamese side also pledged to create favourable conditions to simplify the procedures for residence registration and work permits for RoK workers in Vietnam.

Within the framework of their talks, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in education and training, approved the organisation of the Vietnam – RoK Human Resources Forum, and coordinated in compiling the RoK language textbooks at schools in Vietnam. The two sides also targeted to expand the scope of cooperation in the fields of labour and vocational training, and soon extend the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sending and receiving Vietnamese labourers to work in the RoK (EPS).

In the context of the complicated international situation, the two leaders welcomed the signing of a new cooperation agreement between the two countries' foreign ministries, promoting substantive cooperation fields. They pledged to continue to support each other and promote bilateral cooperation to facilitate the operation of missions and consular offices of the two countries.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol highly appreciated the establishment and activities of the Vietnam-Korea Eminent Persons Group, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. The Group has completed a report with various proposals on developing the bilateral relations between the two countries, looking towards the future.

During his visit to the RoK, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received several friendship organisations and groups, as well as those operating on economic, cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange, which have made positive contributions to the bilateral ties.

To date, Vietnam is the fourth largest trade partner of the RoK, while the RoK is the third largest trade partner of Vietnam. The two sides agreed to surpass their two-way trade of 80 billion VND in 2021, in a more balanced manner, maintaining their position as a leading trade partner of each other, targeting to increase the two-way trade to 100 billion USD next year and 150 billion USD by 2030.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in investment, information sharing, and experience in building mechanisms, policies and laws, fostering investment in start-ups and innovation activities while boosting cooperation at multilateral economic forums and mechanisms.

Both Vietnam and the RoK targeted to strengthen economic linkages and rules-based free trade in the region, through the removal of import regulations and strengthening cooperation in tariffs, including the electronic exchange of certificates of origin, under the Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement, to effectively implement bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms, such as the Vietnam – RoK Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA), ASEAN- RoK Trade in Goods Agreement (AKFTA) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Vietnam wishes businesses from the RoK to continue new investments and expand their investment scale in areas including electronics, renewable energy, infrastructure development, tourism, construction of specialised complexes, high-quality industrial and agricultural parks, green industrial parks and smart cities, as well as support Vietnamese enterprises to deeply integrating into the global supply chain.

The RoK side affirmed that the development of the financial and banking sector is a necessary factor for the comprehensive development of the economy, thereby requesting Vietnam to actively support Korean financial institutions, to join the Vietnamese market towards the expansion of investment from Korean enterprises into Vietnam.

Talking to his RoK counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol, President Phuc gave his sincere thanks to the RoK Government for their official development aid (ODA), which has made important contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development. The RoK affirmed it still considers Vietnam a key partner in the development cooperation of the RoK and enhances cooperation in key areas of the two countries, such as public administration, focusing on e-government, education, water management, sanitation, healthcare, and transportation. The RoK will also continue to effectively implement the financial cooperation agreement and the framework agreement on credits from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

In Seoul, senior leaders of the two countries also witnessed the signing of many cooperation agreements between the ministries, agencies, localities and enterprises from the two countries.

 In the coming time, leaders of the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in urban planning and development, housing and real estate market, technical infrastructure, training of human resources in management and operation of maritime, air and road traffic; implementing key transport infrastructure projects in the 2021-2025 period; promoting Korean investment in the field of transport infrastructure, in the form of Public Private Partnership (PPP), in the fields of high-speed railway, light rail, and subway.

Determining the importance of the strategic task of adapting to climate change, the leaders of the two countries especially appreciated the signing of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation on climate Change and the Joint Plan on Cooperation on Climate Change towards carbon neutrality by 2050, between the two Governments; thereby, working together for the goal of sustainable management of natural resources, including sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, greenhouse gas emission reduction, climate change adaptation, green transition and transboundary water resource management, as well as sustainable management, conservation and protection of forest resources. Vietnam and the RoK will promote cooperation in the forestry sector, with many important projects, such as mangrove restoration in Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh provinces, and cooperation through the Asian Forest Cooperation Organisation (AFoCO).

Given the role and importance of science and technology in the socio-economic development of each country, the two leaders agreed to step up science and technology cooperation in line with the sustainable development strategy of each country and the new international economic environment, especially in the 4.0 industrial revolution and in response to climate change.

Cooperation in research on climate technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, research climate change response technology and source technology of the 4.0 industrial revolution, are the fields of cooperation that the two sides wish to promote. The Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (V-KIST) has become a symbol of science and technology cooperation between the two countries, which is expected to operate successfully in the near future.