Vietnam Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu (R) and First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Chang Ho-jin. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security attended the event. This strategic dialogue took place in the context that the two countries upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022.

In an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual understanding, the two sides discussed strategic issues in Vietnam-RoK relation as well as international and regional matters of common concern.

They acknowledged with pleasure that the bilateral relationship has recorded breakthrough developments over the last 30 years, the political trust has been strengthened, cooperation in various areas has become more substantial, and the friendship and understanding between the two countries’ people has been growing deeper.

The two sides agreed to further boost delegation exchanges and high-level meetings, and cooperation in the Party, Government, and parliament channels; intensify defence-security cooperation in line with the potential and framework of the upgraded relationship between the two countries and launch a maritime dialogue mechanism at the general director level between the two foreign ministries.

The RoK side pledged to further open its market to Vietnam's key export products and their entry into the supply chains of the Asian nation, towards achieving the goal of lifting two-way trade to 100 billion USD, even 150 billion USD in 2030.

The two sides agreed to continue their effective cooperation in implementing the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and the Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF) to perform large-scale investment projects in Vietnam's transportation and urban infrastructure sectors.

Regarding global and regional issues, the two sides discussed extensively on the issues of mutual concern; agreed that the situation in the world and the region is evolving rapidly, complexly and unpredictablely.

The Vietnam-RoK 5th deputy ministerial level strategic dialogue on diplomacy, security, defence. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Both officials affirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation to realise a vision of building an international system based on the rule of the law with the UN Charter at its centre. The two sides also agreed to boost collaboration at international and regional forums, especially at the UN and within the ASEAN-RoK relations.

Chang Ho-jin affirmed that Foreign Ministry of the RoK will closely collaborate with its Vietnamese counterpart to seek breakthrough and strategic solutions to promote the development of each country, and strongly and substantively intensify the RoK-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership in the future, thus contributing to peace, stability, and development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Chang Ho-jin.