Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) isimplementing the New Look South policy, in which Vietnam is a key partner, andit wants to further intensify relations with the Southeast Asian nation, saidRoK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

She made the remark during talks with VietnameseDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on March 9.

Minh congratulated the RoK on the successfulPyeongChang 2018 Olympics, which contributed to promoting dialogue in theKorean Peninsula. 

At the talks, the two sides reviewed theoutstanding achievements in bilateral ties recently, especially since theestablishment of a strategic cooperative partnership in 2009. They alsodiscussed measures to enhance the countries’ strategic cooperative partnershipas well as regional and international issues of shared concern.

They noted with satisfaction the progress inVietnam-RoK relations, agreeing to increase high-level exchanges and meetingsso as to boost mutual understanding and political trust and create a favourableenvironment for strengthening ties in all fields.

The officials also agreed to tighten linksbetween the two foreign ministries in order to promote their countries’cooperation. While economics, trade and investment will be developed in astable, balanced and sustainable manner, mutual understanding betweenVietnamese and Korean people and tourism cooperation will also be consolidated.

Deputy PM Minh affirmed that on the basis of theconsistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisationand diversification of relations, and intensive integration into the world,Vietnam always attaches importance to developing relations with the RoK. 

It wants to work with the RoK to shareexperience, bolster development cooperation, trade liberalisation and regionalconnectivity, and keep peace, security and stability in the region and theworld, he noted.

He applauded the RoK’s engagement investing inbig infrastructure projects, equitising State-owned enterprises, andrestructuring commercial banks in Vietnam. He asked the country to acceleratethe assessment of some agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam like starapple, rambutan, longan, lychee, and some pork and chicken products in 2018.

Minh also called on the RoK to boost technologytransfer, help Vietnamese firms to take part in production chains of the RoKbusinesses which are investing in Vietnam, and support the establishment andoperation of a Vietnam-RoK technology transfer centre. He proposed the twosides soon re-sign the standard memorandum of understanding on sending andreceiving Vietnamese labourers in the RoK.

Additionally, the countries should promote theorganisation of the third round of negotiations on a judicial assistanceagreement in civil and trade matters to create a legal basis for resolvingissues relating to their citizens, the Deputy PM said, asking the RoK toprovide optimal conditions for the granting of tourist visas to Vietnamesecitizens and the opening of direct air routes between the two countries so asto foster tourism ties.

Regarding international and regional issues,both sides agreed to continue the close coordination and effective cooperationat multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Mekong-RoK.

They hailed efforts to promote dialogue andpeacefully solve the nuclear issue of the Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea. They also supported the maintenance of peace, security and stability andthe settlement of disputes by peaceful means in the East Sea in line withinternational law.

Minister Kang Kyung-wha highly valued Vietnam’ssocio-economic and international integration accomplishments over the pastyears, particularly the successful APEC Year 2017.

The RoK’s Foreign Ministry will keep workingclosely with Vietnam to promote the implementation of high-level agreements ina substantive and effective fashion, thus helping to bring the Vietnam-RoKstrategic cooperative partnership to a new height, she added.-VNA