President Lee Jae-myung is to make a state visit to Vietnam from April 21 to 24. With South Korea now Vietnam’s largest investor, the trip is expected to be a turning point for expanding cooperation into advanced sectors such as semiconductor supply chains, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing. Consul General Jeong Jeong-tae in Ho Chi Minh City said he also hopes Vietnam will play a role beyond economic ties, including in security, defense and efforts related to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
In an interview published Tuesday local time by Vietnam’s Tuoi Tre newspaper, Jeong said the visit comes as Vietnam’s new leadership is being consolidated and “clearly shows the high level of political trust and the maturity of relations” between the two countries. He called it “an important milestone” for setting a future direction for cooperation, not simply a diplomatic event.
◆ Investment tops $95 billion; cooperation shifts to quality
Jeong said cooperation has been moving from quantitative growth to higher-quality collaboration since the relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. South Korea is Vietnam’s largest investor, with cumulative investment exceeding $95 billion.
He said cooperation in southern Vietnam, centered on Ho Chi Minh City, has been widening into research and development, smart manufacturing, AI, fintech and digital platforms. He added that expanding cooperation in security, defense and public order also reflects the deepening relationship.
As global supply chains are reshaped and digital transformation accelerates, Jeong said securing supply-chain stability and strengthening digital competitiveness are directly tied to both countries’ economic security. He said the comprehensive strategic partnership framework could support discussions on specific cooperation programs.
Jeong said he hopes cooperation will expand from semiconductor supply chains to joint research, workforce training and digital infrastructure development in key technologies such as AI, data and smart manufacturing. He also said both sides could promote business exchanges and investment cooperation in startups and innovation ecosystems to find new growth engines.
◆ “Vietnam is a reliable partner for peace on the Korean Peninsula”
Jeong said that amid instability in the Middle East and a more complex international environment, the two countries are continuing to pursue shared goals of peace, stability and sustainable development. He said they have worked closely through multilateral frameworks including ASEAN and will keep cooperating to uphold a rules-based international order and strengthen regional cooperation.
Jeong noted Vietnam’s experience hosting U.S.-North Korea summits, calling it a trusted partner in the international community. He said he hopes Vietnam will “contribute positively” to efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula, adding that he believes Vietnam can be an excellent partner in pursuing peaceful coexistence and shared development based on trust. He said he hopes President Lee’s visit will help make those efforts more concrete and lift bilateral ties to a new level.
Jeong, who took office in February, has worked for 15 years as a lawyer in Ho Chi Minh City, supporting South Korean companies entering Vietnam. His past roles include head of the Vietnam office of law firm Jipyong, an operating committee member of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, and an advisory lawyer to the Ho Chi Minh City office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. He said he aims to attract more South Korean companies to Vietnam and build a model of shared growth with Vietnam as a partner between nations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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