Leading figure attends ceremony for presenting Viet Nam-South Korea collaborative agreements
Vietnam and South Korea Strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership During State Visit
In a significant move to deepen their ties, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm of Vietnam recently visited South Korea in August 2025. During this visit, the two countries signed multiple bilateral agreements aimed at expanding their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and boosting economic cooperation.
The agreements cover a broad range of sectors, with a strategic focus on increasing bilateral trade to $150 billion by 2030. This ambitious target seeks to diversify trade and reduce reliance on any single market, particularly amid shifts in U.S. trade policies. Key sectors for cooperation include semiconductors, machinery, agricultural products, textiles, and seafood, with a goal of mutual supply chain integration.
Ten memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were also signed, covering areas such as nuclear and renewable energy, monetary and financial policies, science and technology, copyright and related rights, renewable energy, and labor exchanges. Agreements were reached in banking, stock markets, education, fisheries, human resource development particularly in the nuclear energy sector, and enhanced cooperation between local governments.
Additionally, business and economic cooperation MOUs were established, focusing on industrial partnership, energy, food, and tourism. These accords are expected to facilitate better trade, promote green technologies, advance scientific cooperation, expand human resource exchanges, and strengthen regulatory alignment and infrastructure investments to streamline bilateral commerce.
The visit reinforced Vietnam-South Korea ties by formalising comprehensive agreements that deepen economic, scientific, and social collaboration between the two countries. Notable agreements include an amended MoU on educational cooperation, a MoU on human resources development in the field of nuclear energy, an MoU on fisheries cooperation, and an MoU on strengthening collaboration in renewable energy.
The bilateral relationship between the two countries has reached its highest framework - Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This visit marks the first state-level visit by a foreign leader to South Korea since the establishment of its new administration. It is also the first state visit to South Korea by Party General Secretary Tô Lâm in his current position.
These agreements are expected to have far-reaching implications for both countries, fostering closer ties and promoting economic growth and technological advancement. The visit serves as a testament to the strong and growing relationship between Vietnam and South Korea.
- The strategic focus on increasing bilateral trade to $150 billion by 2030 includes key sectors such as semiconductors, machinery, agricultural products, textiles, and seafood.
- Ten memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed, covering areas like nuclear and renewable energy, monetary and financial policies, science and technology, copyright, labor exchanges, and more.
- Business and economic cooperation MOUs were established, aiming to facilitate better trade, promote green technologies, advance scientific cooperation, and strengthen regulatory alignment and infrastructure investments.
- In the field of education, an amended MoU on educational cooperation was formalized, while an MoU on human resources development in the field of nuclear energy was also reached.
- Fisheries cooperation and strengthening collaboration in renewable energy are other notable areas addressed in the agreements.
- The visit strengthened Vietnam-South Korea ties, marking the first state-level visit by a foreign leader to South Korea since the establishment of its new administration.
- The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries is expected to foster closer ties, promote economic growth, and encourage technological advancement, as per the far-reaching implications of the signed agreements.
