Seoul (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on December 21 held a meeting withPresident of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in as part of his three-dayvisit to the country.

At the meeting, Minh thanked the RoK President forattending and contributing actively to the success of the APEC EconomicLeaders’ Week in Da Nang city in November 2017.

He affirmed that the Government of Vietnam treasures andwants to further promote the strategic cooperative partnership with the RoK forthe development of both countries and for peace and cooperation in the regionand the world.

Moon welcomed Minh’s visit which takes place at a timewhen Vietnam and the RoK are celebrating the 25th founding anniversaryof diplomatic relations, thus deepening the bilateral relationship.

He congratulated Vietnam on successfully hosting the APECYear 2017, and affirmed that the RoK is always willing to support, cooperateand share experience with Vietnam.

During a meeting with RoK Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeonthe same day, the two officials discussed major orientations to enhance politicaltrust and implement practical measures to boost cooperation in investment,trade and technology transfer.

Minh asked Lee and the RoK Government to seekeffective measures to balance two-way trade and lift the bilateral trade value to100 billion USD in 2020, while encouraging RoK businesses to increaseinvestments and take part in infrastructure development, equitisation ofState-owned enterprises and restructuring of commercial banks in Vietnam.

He also expressed his hope that the RoK Government supportsoverseas Vietnamese who are working, living and studying in the RoK.

Lee pledged to direct RoK agencies to increasecooperation with Vietnamese partners to expand cooperation areas in the future.

Also on December 21, Minh held talks with RoK ForeignMinister Kang Kyung-wha, during which the two ministers discussed specificsolutions to promote the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership to a newheight.

They agreed to effectively deploy existing cooperationmechanisms and soon organise a strategic dialogue on diplomacy, security anddefence at the level of deputy foreign minister.

The two officials also consented to carry out measuresto develop bilateral trade in a stable and balance manner, while workingclosely to conduct the framework agreement on a 1.5 billion USD credit packagefrom the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) signed in November 2017and the credit programme worth 12 billion USD within the financial cooperationbetween the two nations, and continuing to bolstering cooperation in culture,education, health and people-to-people exchanges.

Minh applauded RoK investors for investing in high-technology,smart agriculture and infrastructure in Vietnam. He asked the RoK Government tocontinue providing Vietnam with non-refundable technical assistance andpreferential ODA to develop infrastructure projects.

He also asked for the RoK’s help with bomb and mineclearance, and increasing the reception of Vietnamese workers.

Kang applauded Minh’s proposals and hoped that theGovernment of Vietnam will create optimal conditions for RoK firms to partakein large projects such as Long Thanh international airport, metro project in HoChi Minh City, and North-South Expressway.

He promised that the Foreign Ministry and otheragencies of the RoK will continue coordinating closely with Vietnamesecounterparts to deploy practical measures to enhance the strategic cooperative partnershipbetween the two countries.

The two ministers also discussed regional andinternational issues of mutual concern. Minh reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policyof supporting peace, stability and denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula.

Following the talks, the ministers signed a memorandumof understanding on cooperation between the two ministries of foreign affairs.

On the same day, Minh held a dialogue with leaders of20 leading groups in the RoK such as Samsung, Hyundai, Lotte, Kumho, Hanwha,Hyosung, LG and Korea Eximbank.

The RoK businesses inquired about Vietnam’s policiesand institutions in the fields of investment, trade, tax and banking and suggestedVietnam continue creating favourable conditions for RoK investors to expandproduction and business operations in Vietnam.

Minh highlighted Vietnam’s investment and businesspotential for RoK firms and cleared up Vietnam’s policies and regulations invarious fields.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government willcontinue offering optimal conditions for RoK investors to do businesseffectively in the Southeast Asian country.-VNA