Vietnam and South Korea announce a joint statement aiming to intensify their strategic partnership.
In a significant development, Vietnam and South Korea have agreed to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aiming to elevate it to a new stage. This partnership, established in 1992 and elevated in 2022, encompasses various sectors including defense, security, economy, technology, science, labor, healthcare, education, sustainable development, climate change, agriculture, infrastructure, and culture.
Economic growth and technological advancement are priority areas for both countries. They have pledged to nearly double their bilateral trade volume from about $86 billion to $150 billion by 2030, reducing reliance on single export markets amid global economic uncertainties. Major sectors of cooperation include semiconductors, advanced machinery, agricultural products, textiles, and fisheries. South Korea is Vietnam’s largest investor, with approximately 10,000 Korean companies operating in Vietnam, notably Samsung’s significant manufacturing presence there.
Technology and science collaboration involves joint research and development in green technology and renewables. Vietnamese leadership has requested continued support and nurturing of Vietnamese talent in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and shipbuilding to foster innovation and industrial growth.
Defense and security cooperation includes expanded arms sales and closer military ties, signaling a strategic dimension to their partnership amid geopolitical tensions and US-China rivalry in the region. Vietnam has expressed readiness to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, supporting inter-Korean dialogue efforts.
Labor and education cooperation involves agreements to enhance people-to-people exchanges and educational collaboration, facilitating academic and technical training programs to develop skilled labor forces. This includes local-to-local cooperation channels and joint efforts spanning government and civil society.
Healthcare cooperation will focus on technology transfer, biotechnology research, genetic technology, AI applications, and telemedicine.
Sustainable development and climate change initiatives include green technology R&D and coordination bodies to monitor and advance environmental and climate response efforts. Close collaboration will be carried out in the Reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) project, forest preservation projects, water resources management, and environmental protection initiatives like waste-to-energy plants and recycling zones.
Cultural exchanges and cooperation are part of a broad-based bilateral relationship, fostering mutual understanding and people-to-people linkages at various societal levels.
The partnership is supported by intensified high-level exchanges in multiple formats, including bilateral visits, international forums, virtual meetings, and multilateral conferences, covering party, government, national assembly, ministerial, and local levels.
In education, the two countries will focus on increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students, particularly in AI and STEM fields, digital transformation programmes, and the compilation of Korean language textbooks for Vietnam's curriculum.
On the economic front, the two countries reaffirmed their goal of raising two-way trade to US$150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner. Agricultural cooperation emphasises high-tech and smart farming to reduce emissions, with technology sharing across production, processing, and distribution of food products.
Vietnam has pledged to simplify work permits for Korean citizens, and the Korean side may expand industries accepting Vietnamese workers. The partnership also includes cooperation in sustainable development goals, including initiatives in green technology R&D and coordination bodies to monitor and advance environmental and climate response efforts.
In summary, Vietnam and South Korea have developed an increasingly robust and broad partnership with a strategic vision for 2030 that prioritizes economic growth, technological advancement, security cooperation, and sustainable development, reflecting mutual interests in regional stability and prosperity.
- The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and South Korea aims to elevate economic growth and technological advancement.
- They have pledged to nearly double their bilateral trade volume to $150 billion by 2030, focusing on sectors like semiconductors, advanced machinery, and agriculture.
- Technology and science collaboration includes research and development in green technology and renewables, as well as support for Vietnamese talent in artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
- Defense and security cooperation involves enhanced arms sales, military ties, and Vietnam's intention to contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- Labor and education cooperation includes people-to-people exchanges and academic and technical training programs to develop skilled labor forces.
- Healthcare cooperation will focus on technology transfer, biotechnology research, genetic technology, AI applications, and telemedicine.
- Sustainable development and climate change initiatives include green technology R&D, monitoring, and advancing environmental and climate response efforts.
- Cultural exchanges and cooperation will foster mutual understanding and people-to-people linkages at various societal levels.
- High-level exchanges will occur in multiple formats, including bilateral visits, international forums, virtual meetings, and multilateral conferences.
- In education, the two countries will increase scholarships for Vietnamese students, particularly in AI and STEM fields, and compile Korean language textbooks for Vietnam's curriculum.
- The partnership also includes cooperation in sustainable development goals and initiatives in green technology R&D and environmental and climate response efforts.
- The partnership represents a strategic vision for 2030 that prioritizes economic growth, technological advancement, security cooperation, and sustainable development, reflecting mutual interests in regional stability and prosperity.
