Creating a solid foundation for Vietnam and Korea to develop together in the new era

General Secretary To Lam and his wife, along with the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, have just successfully concluded their State visit to the Republic of Korea. With General Secretary To Lam being the first State Guest of the new Korean government, the visit has created an important historical milestone in the relationship between the two countries, adding strong momentum to promote the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and creating a solid foundation for the two countries to continue to accompany, develop and grow together in the new era.

E-Magazine | Nhandan.vn

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his wife, General Secretary To Lam and his wife take a group photo. (Photo: VNA)

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Enhancing substantive cooperation between Vietnam and Korea

At the high-level talks with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea, General Secretary To Lam appreciated President Lee Jae Myung's invitation to the General Secretary, his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to visit Korea immediately after his election, demonstrating Korea's high regard and priority for Vietnam as well as the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. General Secretary To Lam affirmed that Vietnam consistently attaches importance to relations with Korea in its foreign policy.

In a sincere and friendly atmosphere, the two leaders had a comprehensive and strategic exchange on the situation in each country and the Vietnam-Korea relationship. Both sides expressed their delight at the remarkable development, with many outstanding highlights, of the bilateral relationship after more than 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, especially since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and jointly concretized the Action Program to implement this highest diplomatic framework.

The two leaders agreed to continue to firmly consolidate political trust and promote strategic coordination in key areas such as diplomacy, defense and security; shared common views on jointly shaping and implementing a new strategic vision for Vietnam-Korea economic cooperation from market-based cooperation to cooperation in developing production chains and high-quality human resources. The two leaders agreed to elevate science and technology cooperation to become a pillar and a new bright spot in bilateral relations so that Vietnam can become a value-creating partner with Korea in science, technology and innovation.

General Secretary To Lam holds talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. (Photo: VNA)

The important highlights of this high-level meeting were that the two leaders issued a Joint Statement on deepening the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership ; and witnessed the exchange of 10 cooperation documents between ministries, sectors and agencies of the two countries in cooperation fields such as defense, security, economy, trade, labor, culture, etc.

General Secretary To Lam:

Vietnam consistently attaches importance to relations with the Republic of Korea in its foreign policy; hopes that the leaders of the two countries will orient the cooperation between the two countries to continue to have new, substantive, effective, and sustainable changes in all fields, commensurate with the highest framework of diplomatic relations that the two sides have established.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung:

General Secretary To Lam's first visit to Korea as Vietnam's top leader is of special significance, creating a strong driving force to enhance mutual understanding, consolidate political trust, and further promote and deepen the Korea-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the next period.

At the meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min Seok, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to cooperative relations with South Korea and wishes to work with South Korea to further deepen the Vietnam-South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

General Secretary To Lam meets with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min Seok. (Photo: VNA)

The two leaders shared their views on continuing to promote more substantive, effective and comprehensive economic cooperation, creating a glue to firmly bind the interests of the two countries; closely coordinate to effectively implement items in the "Action Plan to achieve the target of bilateral trade turnover reaching 150 billion USD towards a more balanced direction by 2030". General Secretary To Lam suggested that Korea step up support for Vietnamese enterprises to access Korean e-commerce channels; facilitate trade, open markets for each other's goods; support capacity building for Vietnamese enterprises to participate more deeply in the global supply chain of Korean enterprises; encourage Korean enterprises to expand their investment scale in Vietnam...

The General Secretary hoped that the two sides would coordinate to develop strategic technology sectors, strengthen cooperation in the fields of telecommunications, information technology, e-government, biotechnology, climate technology, nanotechnology, clean energy and renewable energy; promote cooperation in the field of digital transformation such as artificial intelligence, and build digital innovation policies.

General Secretary To Lam:

Science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and human resource training need to become new pillars of bilateral relations.

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min Seok:

Will continue to pay attention to cooperation with Vietnam to enhance training of high-quality human resources to serve the economic development of the two countries in the coming time.

General Secretary To Lam and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min Seok witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between units and enterprises. (Photo: VNA)

During his State visit to Korea, General Secretary To Lam met with Speaker of the Korean National Assembly Woo Won Sik.

At the meeting, the two leaders affirmed their desire to deepen the Vietnam-Korea relationship in a practical manner, commensurate with the comprehensive strategic partnership and the great development potential of the two countries, in which parliamentary cooperation plays a very important role.

In the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two leaders highly appreciated the good cooperation results between the two countries' National Assemblies; agreed to promote the role of the two countries' legislative bodies in coordinating, supporting and urging ministries, branches and localities to implement cooperation agreements signed between the two governments; and promote the connection between the two economies to develop substantially, effectively and comprehensively.

General Secretary To Lam, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Woo Won Sik and delegates pose for a group photo. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary To Lam suggested continuing to effectively and comprehensively implement the contents of the Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries’ National Assemblies; promoting cooperation and exchanges between the two countries’ National Assemblies, increasing the exchange of high-level delegations and exchanges between parliamentarians and young parliamentarians; and promoting the bridging role of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups.

During the visit, General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Kim Min Seok attended the Vietnam-Korea Economic Forum with the theme “Cooperation in developing production chains in the new era”. Here, General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Kim Min Seok, along with high-ranking representatives of the two countries, witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea.

The General Secretary and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation also met with leaders of leading Korean corporations; worked with leaders of Busan city... The General Secretary attended the Vietnam-Korea Science and Technology Seminar with the participation of many scientists, managers and business leaders of the two countries. This is the first time the two countries have organized a high-level seminar to create a framework for close strategic cooperation on three key growth drivers: science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Affirming that science and technology cooperation is identified as an important pillar to elevate the Vietnam-Korea relationship in the coming time, General Secretary To Lam believes that the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will develop increasingly substantively and effectively, bringing comprehensive and sustainable benefits to the two countries.

General Secretary To Lam meets with leaders of several major Korean corporations. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary To Lam receives Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary attends the inauguration ceremony of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan, South Korea. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary To Lam and delegates attend the seminar on Vietnam-Korea science and technology cooperation. (Photo: VNA)

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Echoes of harmony in the people's souls

General Secretary To Lam's policy speech during his visit to Yonsei University in South Korea received great attention and appreciation from Korean and international friends. With the theme "Enhancing connectivity and trust, promoting the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, prosperity, cooperation and development", the speech mentioned three important issues including: (i) Vietnam's viewpoint on the world and the region; (ii) Vietnam's development orientation to 2030, vision to 2045; (iii) Vietnam-Korea relations and orientations for developing bilateral relations in the new period.

General Secretary To Lam said that, similar to Korea, in the face of the opportunities and challenges of the times, Vietnam is striving to bring the country into a new era, an era of wealth, prosperity and development. With faith in the bright future of the country and the rich traditions passed down from previous generations, along with great inspiration from the miraculous development of friendly countries like Korea, Vietnam is showing strong determination to create new development achievements on the journey to the future.

General Secretary To Lam received an honorary doctorate from Yonsei University. (Photo: VNA)

Emphasizing that although it has only been 33 years since Vietnam and Korea established diplomatic relations, the cooperative and friendly relationship between the two countries has developed at an unprecedented speed in history . The two countries have become trusted partners, closely cooperating at the strategic level and are close, intimate friends who understand each other. The main reason is the resonant echoes in the souls of the two peoples, the deep, warm relationship and the close connection in terms of practical and strategic interests.

General Secretary To Lam:

The Koreans have a saying that “the will of the people is the will of heaven.” We, the Vietnamese, also always keep in mind that the country must “take the people as its foundation.” The people are the special link that connects the good traditional feelings between our two countries, and are the foundation for strengthening political trust and fostering cooperative relations between the two countries.

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Proposing major orientations to continue the development momentum of the relationship between the two countries, which is currently in its best state ever, the General Secretary affirmed that students and young people will be the ones to inherit and continue the glorious traditions of previous generations; at the same time, they are the pioneering and core force that determines the increasingly strong relationship between the two countries. Vietnamese students studying in Korea in general and Yonsei University in particular are the "goodwill ambassadors" of the Vietnamese people, all of whom aspire and wish to become important factors promoting the increasingly brilliant development of Vietnam-Korea relations.

The State visit to Korea by General Secretary To Lam and his wife along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attracted special attention from the international media.

The Korea Herald quoted President Lee Jae Myung as saying that Vietnam-Korea relations are ready to reach new heights by expanding cooperation in strategic and future-oriented areas such as artificial intelligence and infrastructure. Vietnam is an indispensable partner of Korea not only in economic cooperation but also in efforts towards peace and stability.

Regarding the meeting between General Secretary To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung, Yonhap news agency , KBS , and Korea Times of South Korea emphasized that the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, security, technology, and culture.

According to South Korean media, the country always considers Vietnam a key partner in implementing foreign policy in the region... Meanwhile, Reuters news agency and devdiscourse.com (India) commented that the meeting between General Secretary To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung sent a message that South Korea and Vietnam are making efforts to promote economic and strategic cooperation.

General Secretary To Lam’s first State visit to the Republic of Korea in his new position was a great success, contributing significantly to strengthening political trust and raising the level of substantive cooperation between the two countries. The visit opened up new development directions in important and potential areas of cooperation, thereby bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The results achieved during this visit are an important foundation for Vietnam and the Republic of Korea to inherit, promote and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the cause of construction and development of each country, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Publication date: 13/8/2025
Directed by: Chu Hong Thang - Pham Truong Son
Content: Minh Hang - Nguyen Ha
Presented by: Nha Nam
Source: According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VNA

Source: https://nhandan.vn/special/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-viet-nam-han-quoc/index.html