Vietnam's model relationship

Before returning home, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spent over an hour sharing important policy messages with professors and students at Seoul National University (South Korea).

Vietnam is ready to cooperate even more closely with South Korea.

Beginning his policy speech, the Prime Minister said "hello" in Korean and received resounding applause from the audience.

According to the head of the Vietnamese government, with its strong rise and achievements from the middle of the last century to the present, South Korea has continued to create new miracles, writing another "Miracle on the Han River," establishing a firm position and becoming an indispensable part of the global economy . "The world today and in the future will be linked to innovative and successful Korean businesses known worldwide such as Samsung, LG, Lotte, SK, Hyundai...", the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech on policy and held discussions at Seoul National University yesterday (July 3).

Referring to the main achievements in Vietnam-Korea relations, the Prime Minister said that over the past three decades, overcoming differences and barriers that had hindered relations between the two countries in the past, bilateral relations have continuously developed, becoming a model for good relations between two East Asian countries with an unprecedented level of successful cooperation.

"Our two countries are not only friends and close, trusted partners, but also share many similarities in cultural and ethnic traditions, especially the strong 'family ties' that have lasted for generations. Looking back at history, Vietnam and Korea have had a close relationship for centuries. Two Ly families from Vietnam, from the 12th and 13th centuries, settled in Goryeo and made important contributions to the building and protection of Goryeo," the Prime Minister shared.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also emphasized five major similarities between the two countries: history, aspirations for national development, shared thinking, familial ties, and a desire to contribute to peace, stability, and development. To realize the vision for the development of bilateral relations with eight priorities, the role of the younger generation and students from both countries is crucial.

"Born and educated in the digital and globalized era, young people have immense opportunities and advantages, because youth is synonymous with energy and creativity. With the vision, thinking, and skills acquired from prestigious educational institutions like Seoul National University, I believe that they will be the ones to contribute to creating a 21st century of peace, cooperation, and prosperity," the Prime Minister shared.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the message that Vietnam is ready to cooperate even more closely with South Korea, promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership to bear fruit, for the happiness of the people of both countries and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. "We don't have any symbolic projects yet. This time, we are here to discuss with South Korea the possibility of developing a symbolic project. For example, a high-speed railway, or some other project that would be symbolic of our two countries and two peoples," the Prime Minister stressed.

Turning the Vietnamese dream and the Korean dream into reality.

Despite the limited time, the head of the Vietnamese government was still willing to exchange views and answer questions from professors and researchers at Seoul National University.

According to Ms. Bui Thi My Hang, who recently earned her PhD and currently works at the Vietnam Center at Seoul National University, she raised a question about the Prime Minister's vision for the next 30 years of Vietnam-Korea relations. "What solutions does the government have to create a more balanced relationship between the two countries, not just a one-way flow of investment from Korea, but also to promote Vietnamese goods to Korea and move towards visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens?" Ms. My Hang asked.

Assessing the question as "good but also very difficult," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the relationship between the two countries over the next 30 years will be built on a foundation of greater political trust, and the integration of the two economies, already deep and extensive, must be further deepened and made more proactive. He emphasized the need to more effectively leverage cultural similarities for the development of both countries; and to strengthen the bonds between the people of the two nations, potentially increasing the number of multicultural families from 80,000. "Both countries share a common aspiration for national development and prosperity, so let's cooperate to turn this aspiration into a shared goal, so that the people of both countries can be happy and prosperous," the Prime Minister affirmed.

Regarding balancing the relationship, the general principle is harmony of interests and shared risks. Vietnam has a trade deficit with South Korea, but conversely, it also engages in manufacturing and processing, participating in global supply chains. Regarding visa issues, the Prime Minister stated that Vietnam has granted visa exemptions to South Koreans since 2004. During meetings with high-ranking South Korean leaders, the Prime Minister also requested visa exemptions for Vietnamese citizens, initially in some cases. The general principle is to listen and understand, share visions and actions, and further strengthen people-to-people ties. Together, we will cooperate to turn aspirations, "the Vietnamese dream, the Korean dream," into reality, so that each country becomes strong and prosperous, and its people become increasingly happy and well-off.

The trip included 34 activities.

Speaking to the press, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son acknowledged that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit was "of great significance, with a rich program, extensive content, and tangible results."

The visit was a great success, achieving its set objectives and serving as a practical implementation of the foreign policy guidelines of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and South Korea. The visit is a significant milestone, demonstrating the high level of positive development in the relationship between the two countries.

During his working trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a packed, rich, and diverse work schedule with 34 activities involving political figures, business leaders, experts, scientists, friendship organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

In particular, the visit yielded many substantive results, especially in the areas of economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Korean leaders affirmed their continued commitment to considering Vietnam a strategic partner in development cooperation (ODA); they will support capacity building for Vietnamese businesses to participate more deeply in the production supply chains of Korean companies. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to promote the development of a stable core mineral supply chain to ensure economic security for both countries. Twenty-three cooperation agreements were signed between businesses and localities of the two countries on cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, healthcare, education, semiconductors, energy, and enhanced cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Korean businesses.

On his final day in South Korea, the Prime Minister met with six leaders of major South Korean corporations that have multi-billion dollar projects in Vietnam. The Prime Minister also visited Samsung's semiconductor complex and the Vietnamese-Korean multicultural family before boarding his flight back home.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-he-hinh-mau-viet-nam-han-quoc-185240703222743987.htm