"Thank you." (To Lam, Vietnam’s party chief and state president)
President Lee Jae-myung and To Lam, Vietnam’s Communist Party chief and state president, exchanged greetings in each other’s languages at a state dinner in Hanoi, setting a cordial tone for the event.
Speaking at the dinner April 22 (local time) at the Hanoi International Convention Center, Lee said the two countries would deepen cooperation as “core global partners,” including in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation — areas Vietnam has identified as key drivers of future growth.
Lee recalled first visiting Vietnam after Seongnam City and Thanh Hoa Province signed a friendship and cooperation memorandum of understanding in 2013. He said he saw Vietnam’s potential then and has been struck by how those “many possibilities” have since translated into remarkable development.
Lee noted that this year marks 800 years since Prince Yi Yong-sang of Vietnam’s Ly dynasty settled in Goryeo. He said ties that began with small exchanges have grown into a close relationship, with about 5 million people traveling between the two countries each year.
He pointed to “more than 10,000” South Korean companies operating in Vietnam, “about 75,000” Vietnamese students studying at South Korean universities, and the lives of “100,000” South Korea-Vietnam multicultural families as evidence of deepening bonds and trust.
Lee urged both sides to work together so that friendship “grown” over centuries can yield benefits for the next generation. Citing a Vietnamese proverb — “100 rivers come together to form one sea” — he said South Korea’s Han River and Vietnam’s Red River “are connected here as one.”
Lee said the visions and promises shared would become streams of cooperation that ultimately meet in “a great sea of shared prosperity,” pledging South Korea would remain a steadfast partner. He ended with a Vietnamese toast, “Chuc suc khoe,” meaning “to your health.”
In his welcoming remarks, To Lam said the visit came as the Vietnam-South Korea comprehensive strategic partnership strengthens, political trust grows, and cooperation expands in the economy, trade, investment and science, alongside more active people-to-people exchanges.
He said Vietnam recently successfully held its 14th Party Congress, elections for the 16th National Assembly, and elections for local councils for the 2026-2031 term. He described Lee as the first state guest to visit Vietnam since the official launch of the country’s new national and government leadership.
To Lam said the relationship blends deep history, cultural similarities and strategic interests in a new era, adding that in more than 30 years since diplomatic ties were established, the partnership has advanced rapidly into a comprehensive strategic partnership based on high political trust and more practical, effective cooperation.
He said Vietnam is currently South Korea’s largest economic partner in Southeast Asia and its third-largest trading partner. He added that South Korea is Vietnam’s top investor, its second-largest partner in development cooperation and tourism, and its third-largest partner in trade and labor.
To Lam compared the friendship to fermented soybean paste that deepens in flavor over time, and cited sayings from both countries about the value of working together. He said cultural similarities, political trust and complementary economic development would help sustain cooperation toward a future of peace, stability, development and prosperity, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.
Attendees at the state dinner included Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, POSCO Holdings Chairman Chang In-hwa, HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, GS Chairman Huh Tae-soo, CJ Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon and Daewoo Engineering & Construction Chairman Jung Won-ju.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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