The official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) made by National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan from December 4-7 was described by Korean leaders as an important milestone in the fine Vietnam-RoK relations, said head of the NA Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau.

National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (C) witnesses signing of a memorandum of understanding on an action plan for raising bilateral trade to 100 billion USD in a balanced manner by 2020  

Sharing with reporters about the outcomes of the visit, Giau said that the top legislator had a busy working agenda, notably her talks with Speaker of the RoK’s National Assembly Moon Hee-sang and her meeting with President Moon Jae-in.

RoK leaders agreed that after 26 years establishing the diplomatic ties, the two countries are enjoying rapid development in their relations.

Both sides showed their optimism about economic and investment cooperation, Giau said, citing the fact that the RoK has become the biggest investor in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 62 billion USD, and the RoK is currently Vietnam’s second largest trade partner, while the latter is the former’s fourth largest trader.

Giau stated that the top Korean leaders and Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don all shared a same view that Koreans love travelling to Vietnam. Last year, around 2.5 million Koreans visited Vietnam, and the figure is expected to reach 3.3-3.4 million this year.

According to him, when mentioning cultural similarities, both countries’ leaders emphasised the important role of 68 Vietnam-RoK multicultural families in connecting and enhancing the bilateral relationship.

The official said he was touched when listening to Korean leaders’ remarks that the RoK had carried out a lot of policies supporting Vietnamese brides and labourers.

The Korean side appreciated the Vietnamese community’s contributions to its economic development, Giau stated, adding that NA Chairwoman Ngan also underlined Korean enterprises and people’s contributions to Vietnam’s growth.

He reiterated the hope of the two countries’ top leaders for 100 billion USD in two-way trade by 2020, adding that this is an important orientation.

Giau also shared that RoK leaders showed their interest in people-to-people exchange, especially when Park Hang-seo, a Korean national, serves as head coach of the Vietnamese national football team. 

According to the official, during her visit, Chairwoman Ngan received representatives of the Ly families - descendants of Prince Ly Long Tuong who immigrated to the RoK from Vietnam in the 13th century, and presented the Friendship Order to Professor Ahn Kyong-hwan – Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Studies in the RoK.

She was granted with an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Politics by the Pukyong National University and also talked to Vietnamese students there. 

The top legislator attended an investment and trade forum between the two countries, and witnessed budget carrier Vietjet’s launch of an air route linking Phu Quoc Island of Vietnam with Seoul at this event.

She also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on an action plan for raising bilateral trade to 100 billion USD in a balanced manner by 2020 between Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and RoK Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yunmo.-VNA