Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and the Republic of Korea(RoK) are developing cooperation in many traditional aspects very well, andthey should expand their ties to other fields in the time ahead, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc told RoK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha in Hanoi on March 9.

The host leader said the two countries’cooperation has been developed in a rapid, effective and trustworthy manner.While political ties have been reinforced, economic and trade partnerships havebeen growing strongly, bringing benefits to both sides.

He welcomed the RoK’s New Look South policy withthe aim of promoting peace, stability and development, which considers Vietnama key partner.

The two countries share many similarities andinterests in bolstering bilateral cooperation. To strengthen their relations,they should continue enhancing mutual trust through maintaining mutualhigh-level visits and meetings, he noted.

He asked the countries to promote economic,trade and investment cooperation in a balanced, stable and effective fashion.They also need to take measures to boost bilateral trade to 100 billion USD in2020, promote trade balance, and remove quarantine obstacles to facilitate theexport of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products, including star apple, tothe RoK in 2018.

PM Phuc expressed his hope that the RoK willcontinue to be the top investor in Vietnam, involving in major infrastructureprojects, renewable energy development, equitisation of State-owned enterprisesand restructuring of local commercial banks.

[Vietnam – key partner in RoK’s New Loo⭕k South policy: official]

At the meeting, he also asked the country tostep up technology transfer, help Vietnamese businesses to participate in theproduction chains of RoK firms, and assist Vietnam in developing supportindustries.

The Vietnamese Government will create the bestpossible conditions for RoK companies to successfully operate in the country.RoK businesses are welcomed to invest in infrastructure development such as theNorth-South Expressway and Long Thanh Airport, he noted, adding that morefavourable conditions will be provided to attract the RoK’s high technologyinvestment.

The PM asked the RoK Government to increasereceiving Vietnamese workers, especially skilled ones, foster tourismcooperation to bolster people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding, andincrease direct air routes.

As both are coastal nations, Vietnam hopes theRoK will share its experience in developing a sea-based economy and supportVietnam and ASEAN’s viewpoint on the East Sea issue.

For her part, Minister Kang Kyung-wha thankedthe Government and PM of Vietnam for supporting activities of Samsung, whosemobile phones manufactured in Vietnam have been exported to around the world.

She affirmed that her country pays specialattention to the cooperation between the RoK and ASEAN, including Vietnam,which plays a very important role in this relationship.

The RoK is scheduled to host an ASEAN-RoKspecial summit in 2019, and it hopes that Vietnam will support this event sothat both sides can intensify cooperation, she said, adding that her countrybacks Vietnam’s viewpoint on the East Sea issue.

The official said there are many Vietnamesepeople in the RoK and vice versa, which is a precious asset of both countries.The RoK Government is making efforts to support the Vietnamese community in hercountry.-VNA