Lee urges shift to higher-quality cooperation with Vietnam; To Lam stresses trust

President Lee Jae-myung said April 22 (local time) that South Korea and Vietnam should turn quantitative gains into higher-quality cooperation to build “a sustainable future of shared prosperity” as geopolitical uncertainty rises and global competition for technological leadership intensifies.
 
Speaking at an expanded summit meeting with Vietnam’s Communist Party chief and state president, To Lam, at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Lee praised Vietnam for posting “one of the region’s highest economic growth rates” last year and for serving as a key economic engine in ASEAN.
 
Lee called for mutually beneficial cooperation beyond trade and investment, including energy security, transportation and infrastructure, science and technology, and education and culture, and urged both sides to deliver tangible results that people and businesses can feel.
 
Lee said the two countries have built a “top-level partnership” across politics, the economy and people-to-people exchanges in the 34 years since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. He said about 5 million people travel between the two countries each year and exchanges in culture, education and other areas continue to expand.
 
He said the two nations are among each other’s top three trading partners, and that South Korea is Vietnam’s largest investor. More than 10,000 South Korean companies operate in Vietnam, he said, contributing to both countries’ economic growth and Vietnam’s industrial development.
 
In opening remarks, To Lam said Lee’s visit “most clearly demonstrates” the comprehensive strategic partnership based on high mutual trust, and he congratulated the South Korean government and people on their recent achievements.
 
To Lam said he was impressed by Lee’s governing principles that prioritize coexistence and harmony, respect and trust. He said he believes South Korea will achieve further results under Lee’s leadership and strategic vision and contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
 
He said the Vietnam-South Korea comprehensive strategic partnership has produced “remarkable achievements” across all fields over 35 years of development, and welcomed that the two sides have worked strategically as close friends who understand each other and as partners that can truly be trusted.
 
To Lam said Vietnam’s party, state and people highly value Lee’s commitment to bilateral ties from his time as Seongnam mayor through his inauguration as president. He said Vietnam is ready for in-depth discussions on ways to strengthen strategic trust, expand practical cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest.