VietNamNet Bridge – The Republic of Korea (RoK) considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and one of its key partners in its policy of supplying official development assistance (ODA).

Photo: VNS
President Lee Myung-bak made this affirmation during talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang in Seoul on November 8.

The RoK will increase ODA to Vietnam in future, especially in the fields of infrastructure and human resource training, Mr Lee said.

President Sang highly valued the RoK’s ODA to Vietnam, which he said is used effectively in the country.

Both host and guest expressed their delight at the rapid and effective development of friendship and cooperation between the two countries over the past years, especially since they established a strategic partnership in 2009. They declared 2012 as the “Vietnam – RoK Friendship Year” with a series of activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The two sides shared similar views on specific measures to deepen and uplift bilateral strategic partnership to a new height, for the benefits of the two peoples and to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

They also agreed to continue stepping up exchanges of visits to promote trust and mutual understanding, and strengthen strategic dialogue and practical cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, national defence and security.

The Vietnamese and RoK leaders agreed to continue boosting bilateral economic and trade cooperation to fulfil the goal of raising two-way trade to US$20 billion before 2015 and move toward the target of US$30 billion, and working closely to stabilise the trade balance between the two countries.

The two sides consented to promote people-to-people exchanges, protect and ensure legitimate interests of citizens of the other country living in each country, strengthen judicial and consular cooperation, including the acceleration of the signing of a judicial cooperation agreement in the civil field. They highly valued their effective cooperation in labour and vocational training.

They also agreed to promote coordination at regional and international forums, work closely to deal with global issues for sustainable development, including coping with climate change, disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, fighting global terrorism, maintaining peace and stability and ensuring maritime freedom on territorial waters in the region in line with international law.

President Sang invited President Lee to visit Vietnam and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

In the evening, President Lee held a banquet in honour of President Sang and his entourage.

VNNt/VOV/VNA