This is the first visit to the RoK by the Foreign Minister of Vietnam after the two countries upgraded their ties to a level of comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022.

The visit takes place at a time when the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the RoK is developing positively.

The administration of President Yoon Suck-yeol considers Vietnam an important partner in the RoK’s foreign policy, especially in implementing its Indo-Pacific strategy and Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.

The two countries have maintained regular visit exchanges at all levels and they have supported each other at regional and international forums.    

Economically, the RoK is one of Vietnam’s leading economic partners. It is the largest foreign investor, with total registered investment capital of US$87 billion as of April 2024, the second largest ODA partner and the third largest trade and labour partner.

Currently, more than 270,000 Vietnamese nations are living and working in the RoK. Last year, 3.6 million Koreans visited Vietnam, while more than 500,000 Vietnamese people travelled to the RoK.

The first four months of 2024 alone saw 1.6 million Koreans visit Vietnam, making up one fourth of the total number of foreign visitors to the Southeast Asian nation.

Minister Son’s coming visit demonstrates Vietnam’s desire to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, through promoting the implementation of reached cooperation agreements in the fields of politics, security, national defense, economics, trade, investment, development aid, finance-banking, labour, science-technology, climate change response, transport, infrastructure, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

VOV