Discourse on results of Seoul negotiations shared with press by South Korean officials
Vietnam and Republic of Korea strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (RoK) met in Seoul on August 11, 2023, to discuss the future of their bilateral relationship. The leaders agreed to expand cooperation in various fields, aiming to deepen political, economic, cultural, and technological ties between the two nations.
In the realm of agriculture and rural development, both sides will focus on expanding cooperation in rural infrastructure and smart agriculture. Priority will be given to specific agricultural product groups such as winter crops, temperate fruit trees, spices, and medicinal plants in various Vietnamese regions.
Cultural industry cooperation will involve collaboration in music, cinema, fashion, games, copyright, and building a creative cultural industry. The aim is to create joint creative products, share experience in cultural policies, investment, human resource training, and promote cultural values regionally and globally.
Science, technology, and innovation will be a key area of cooperation, with joint research projects commencing in 2025 across six key fields: information technology, biotechnology, climate technology, nanotechnology, digital transformation, and new and renewable energy. The cooperation will also support the Viet Nam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) and attract high-tech Korean investment to Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem.
Economic and trade relations will continue to thrive, with bilateral trade reaching significant volumes and South Korea being Vietnam’s largest foreign investor. Cooperation will extend to energy infrastructure, supply chains, digital technology, and renewable energy, supported by numerous memorandums of understanding in sectors such as hyperscale data centers, high-speed rail, AI, and shipbuilding.
People-to-people and tourism exchange will also be a focus, with large numbers of South Koreans visiting Vietnam and increasing Vietnamese presence working in South Korea.
The leaders also emphasised the importance of strengthening practical cooperation in key areas like diplomacy, defence, and security. Cooperation will be focused on addressing non-traditional security issues, including transnational crime, cybercrime, and drug trafficking.
The Việt Nam - RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, elevated in 2022, has become a model for good ties, with outstanding and comprehensive achievements. The leaders expressed their confidence that the partnership will continue to grow in a substantive, effective, and sustainable manner.
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- The leaders also acknowledged the need to address policy-and-legislation and politics to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on labor laws and workforce development.
- In the field of education, both countries will collaborate on scholarships, educational programs, and capacity building, aiming to foster mutual understanding and enhance human resource development.
- The leaders, in recognition of the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in various sectors, agreed to cooperate on AI research and development, with an emphasis on its applications in healthcare, transportation, and general news reporting.
- To maintain the general security of both nations, cooperation will also extend to defense, ensuring joint military exercises and information-sharing to counter potential threats in the region.
- In the realm of general news, both sides will work together to enhance media exchanges and promote a free, fair, and responsible press, contributing to a more informed and engaged public in both countries.
- Moreover, the leaders expressed their commitment to addressing climate change, with a focus on renewable energy and green technology, as well as joint initiatives to combat pollution and reduce carbon emissions.
- Finally, both nations underscored the importance of cultural exchange programs and events to foster mutual understanding and appreciation, with the goal of promoting regional and global peace and prosperity.
