General Secretary To Lam and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung take a photo together. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

General Secretary To Lam's state visit to South Korea from August 10-13 attracted special attention and high appreciation from experts in the region.

In Malaysia, security and foreign affairs analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat of the University of Malaya assessed that the visit not only marked a great step forward in Vietnam-Korea relations but also contributed to promoting peace and prosperity in ASEAN in the context of the region promoting intra-bloc and extra-bloc cooperation for this goal.

Speaking to a VNA reporter in Kuala Lumpur, expert Collins Chong Yew Keat assessed that through General Secretary To Lam's visit, Vietnam-Korea relations have made remarkable progress in all aspects.

Notably, in terms of politics, the two countries agreed to increase exchanges at all levels - Party, State, National Assembly; ensure deeper trust and institutionalized cooperation. In terms of security and defense, the two sides pledged to coordinate more closely in the fields of defense industry, maritime security, mine clearance, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.

Economically, the two sides set ambitious goals - increasing bilateral trade and developing nuclear and renewable energy, high-speed rail, finance and science and technology.

On innovation and energy, the two sides will expand cooperation in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, biotechnology, critical minerals, digital infrastructure and renewable energy. People-to-people ties will be strengthened through expanding labor mobility programs, educational scholarships, cultural exchanges and tourism promotion.

According to expert Collins Chong Yew Keat, the results of the visit go beyond bilateral relations, with significant impacts on ASEAN's security and economy.

On the security front, stronger Vietnam-Korea cooperation will strengthen ASEAN's external linkages, especially in non-traditional security areas such as maritime safety, climate resilience, and transnational crime prevention.

Vietnam acts as a "bridge" to bring South Korea into Southeast Asia, enhancing ASEAN's central role in security mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Furthermore, both countries’ reaffirmation of support for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and support for the negotiation process of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) directly supports ASEAN’s maritime security objectives.

Vietnam's balanced foreign policy also positions Vietnam as a potential promoter of inter-Korean dialogue, indirectly contributing to regional stability.

General Secretary To Lam and President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung witnessed the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing cooperation in renewable energy between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

On the economic front, the Vietnam-Korea partnership strengthens ASEAN integration through accelerating infrastructure, energy and digital connectivity projects, complementing regional supply chains.

In the context of global trade patterns being disrupted by geopolitical tensions and tariff changes, the enhanced cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea provides ASEAN member countries with new channels for investment, technology transfer and market diversification, contributing to reducing over-dependence on any economic partner.

Korean investment in Vietnam – especially in high-tech sectors – could spill over to neighboring ASEAN economies, raising standards of innovation and industrial capacity.

In addition, closer coordination between Vietnam and Korea at multilateral forums such as the EAS, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) will help ASEAN maintain its cohesion and strategic importance.

Expert Collins Chong Yew Keat concluded that it can be said that General Secretary To Lam's visit not only deepens Vietnam-Korea relations in the fields of politics, security, economy and culture but also strengthens ASEAN's strategic position in the context of increasing regional competition.

The visit brought together Korea’s advanced industrial capabilities and Vietnam’s dynamic role in ASEAN, contributing to a stronger regional economy, a more robust security architecture, and closer ASEAN-Northeast Asia connectivity. This sets a forward-looking framework that will shape both bilateral and regional dynamics in the coming decade.

According to nhandan.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/quan-he-viet-nam-han-quoc-gop-phan-thuc-day-hoa-binh-thinh-vuong-asean-156682.html