Warmly welcoming the President of the Republic of Korea and his wife along with the high-ranking Korean delegation on a State visit to Vietnam, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that, along with the very successful official visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Kim Jin Pyo in January 2023, President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit took place right after the two countries upgraded their relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and was the first visit to the Southeast Asian region, demonstrating the importance of the Government and the President himself to the relationship between the two countries.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Photo: PHAM THANG

According to the National Assembly Chairman, in the overall relationship between the two countries, cooperation between the two National Assemblies plays an important role and has achieved many positive results. The leaders of the National Assembly, specialized committees and the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Parliamentarians Group maintain regular exchanges. The two sides closely cooperate and support each other in multilateral inter-parliamentary forums such as the IPU, APPF, ASEP, MSEAP, actively contributing to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

Appreciating the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade and investment, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two countries further enhance trade facilitation, continue to promote the scale of bilateral trade according to the set goals towards balance and sustainability. Korean enterprises should strengthen connections, support Vietnamese enterprises to participate more deeply in the supply chain of Korean enterprises, and cooperate with both sides to form a number of strategic supply chains where both sides have potential, strengths and needs. He suggested that Korea pay attention to expanding the scale of ODA provision to Vietnam; encourage large Korean corporations to open innovation centers and R&D centers in Vietnam.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: PHAM THANG

The National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two countries continue to promote cooperation in the field of defense and security; promote cooperation in seasonal labor and holiday labor. The two governments will soon implement the agreement on social insurance signed during the National Assembly Chairman's official visit to Korea in December 2021. Korea will support human resource training; promote people-to-people exchanges; prioritize cooperation projects to promote twinning and local cooperation, including local elected bodies.

Emphasizing that the young generation in general, including young National Assembly deputies/parliamentarians, are the future of Vietnam-Korea relations, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that Korea consider supporting and sponsoring the Vietnam-Korea student exchange program.

On this occasion, the National Assembly Chairman respectfully invited the Korean National Assembly delegation to Vietnam to attend the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Forum.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Photo: PHAM THANG

The National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two sides cooperate closely and support each other on international and regional issues of mutual concern; welcomed the Republic of Korea to continue contributing to and strengthening cooperation within the framework of ASEAN-Korea, Mekong-Korea and closely coordinate with Vietnam in its role as the coordinator of ASEAN-Korea relations for the 2021-2024 period; asked the Republic of Korea to support and share a common vision on ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; affirmed that Vietnam is always interested in and ready to actively contribute to the process of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol basically agreed with the National Assembly Chairman's proposal to promote cooperation in many fields, suggesting that the two sides continue to support each other in multilateral forums.

View of the meeting. Photo: PHAM THANG

Emphasizing the important role of enterprises in economic development, the President of Korea said that it is necessary to continue to create an environment for favorable economic activities. The economic situation has complicated developments globally, however, with strong financial capacity, Korean enterprises have many possibilities and potentials to cooperate with Vietnam. Currently, large, medium and small Korean enterprises investing in Vietnam tend to focus on the field of high technology science with the desire to create new values. This cooperation will be a natural mechanism in the transfer of technology and experience between the two countries.

Thanking the President of the Republic of Korea for sharing, the Chairman of the National Assembly affirmed that the National Assembly and the Government of Vietnam attach great importance to and will continue to create favorable conditions for Korean investors to invest in Vietnam. The National Assembly of Vietnam has requested the Government to carefully review issues related to global minimum tax and the National Assembly of Vietnam is expected to consider this issue in its session later this year; hoping that Korea will share its experience with Vietnam on the issue of global minimum tax.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and delegates. Photo: PHAM THANG

At the ongoing session, the Vietnamese National Assembly approved the amendment of visa regulations with breakthroughs in facilitating foreigners to enter, exit, and reside in Vietnam. The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that he will discuss with the Government on the issue of work permits to create maximum convenience for Korean experts to enter Vietnam.

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