Vietnam, South Korea Agree to Boost Strategic Partnership Ties
Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) will raise the bilateral comprehensive ties to “strategic partnership” cooperation, President Lee Muyn-bak and his host counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet agreed in a joint statement.
The two sides agreed to set up annual dialogues at the level of deputy foreign minister in order to raise the foreign affairs-security-defence ties.
In terms of the economic cooperation, the two countries target to double their bilateral trade to US$20 billion in 2015 from nearly US$10 billion last year.
Lee affirmed Korean businesses would enhance investments in Vietnam’s high-tech and large-scale projects in the future.
The Korean side has already recognized Vietnam as the market economy on the occasion.
Regarding the multilateral cooperation, the two sides pledged to continue their mutual supports at international forums, including the UN, WTO, and enhance the cooperation in global issues such as counter-terrorists, drugs smugglers.
Hanoi and Seoul agreed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear issue would be settled via the UN’s mechanisms and six-side negotiations.
Lee Administration has also decided to increase the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students and cooperate in training human resources.
Lee Myung-bak, who is making his first trip to Vietnam between Oct 20-22, held talk with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and paid courtesy visit to Part Chief Nong Duc Manh on the same day.
South Korea became the fifth nation to establish a strategic partnership with Vietnam following China, Russia, India and Japan. (Local sources)
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