By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, who was on a state visit to South Korea, at the Government Complex Seoul on August 11.

The two sides exchanged views on bilateral economic cooperation, cooperation in strategic areas, scientific and technological cooperation, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

Prime Minister Kim welcomed the Secretary-General, who is the first Vietnamese Party Secretary-General to visit South Korea in 11 years and the first state guest of the South Korean government.

He expressed his hope that the Secretary-General's visit will mark a historic milestone, opening a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic partnership between South Korea and Vietnam.

Party Secretary Lam also emphasized the importance of the relationship with South Korea, which has achieved remarkable economic development based on boundless creativity and innovation.

He expressed his hope that, building on the excellent cooperative relationship between the two countries in trade and investment, they will strengthen cooperation across all sectors, including digital, AI, bio, and climate change response.

Prime Minister Kim emphasized that businesses are the mainstay and core driving force behind bilateral cooperation and requested his attention to ensure that Korean companies can continue to conduct business smoothly in Vietnam.

Party Secretary Lam acknowledged the significant contributions Korean companies have made to the Vietnamese economy and pledged to support the creation of a favorable environment for Korean companies.

Prime Minister Kim stated that the Korean government seeks to deepen strategic cooperation with Vietnam, which is rapidly developing across all sectors, including nuclear power and high-speed railways, and pledged continued support for Vietnam's strengthening of its scientific and technological capabilities.

Party Secretary Lam welcomed South Korea's participation in large-scale infrastructure projects and proposed continued consultations on related matters.

Both sides highly valued the active people-to-people exchanges, including the 5 million visitors and 500,000 reciprocal stays between the two countries. They agreed to continue efforts to ensure the safety of citizens of both countries while also strengthening cultural, sports, and tourism exchanges between the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international situations. In particular, Party Secretary Lam expressed support for the South Korean government's stance on peace and dialogue on the Korean Peninsula and called for active cooperation between the two countries on the international stage.