Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has called on Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) to increase the exchange of high-ranking visits and meetings in order to enhance political trust, expand cooperation and deepen their bilateral ties. 

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (R) and President of the RoK-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group Kim Hack-yong 

At a reception for President of the RoK-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group Kim Hack-yong in Hanoi on September 22, the Deputy PM said the two sides should devise a coordination plan to well prepare for President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Vietnam to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting slated for November in the central city of Da Nang. 

The Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to developing the strategic partnership with the RoK in the coming time, he affirmed, adding that Kim Hack-yong’s visit is significant to promoting the legislative ties in particular and the bilateral relationship between the two countries in general. 

Deputy PM Binh expressed his hope that the RoK National Assembly will continuously expand and increase the efficiency of economic and trade cooperation with Vietnam, while working on measures to reduce Vietnam’s trade deficit with the RoK. 

He also called for the Korean legislative body’s support in maintaining the RoK’s non-refundable aid and official development assistance (ODA) loans for Vietnam. 

The Deputy PM proposed the early signing of a credit framework agreement for 2016-2020 between the two countries, and maintained preferential loans for Vietnam from the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIMBANK). 

He appealed to the RoK side to step up cultural, educational and tourism links with Vietnam, expand Korean and Vietnamese language teaching, especially Vietnamese language teaching for children of Vietnamese-Korean families, and facilitate visa granting for Vietnamese. 

For his part, Kim Hack-yong stressed that Vietnam and the RoK have become important partners in economy, trade, education, national defence and security.

The RoK will continue its position as Vietnam’s largest partner in terms of investment, ODA provision, tourism and trade.

He proposed the Vietnamese Government continue providing optimal conditions for Korean businesses to operate in the country.

VNA