Prime Minister starts four-day official visit to South Korea

Prime Minister Pham is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Labor-Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc DUng, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh THanh Datj, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh, Minister of Culture-Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, Deputy Minister of National Defense Le Huy Vinh, Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Vu Ho, among others.

This is the first official visit of a high-ranking Vietnamese leader to South Korea since the two countries elevated their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. It is also the first visit to the Northeast Asian nation by a Vietnamese Prime Minister over the past five years.

The visit takes place at a time when the Viet Nam-South Korea ties are developing strongly, with political trust increasingly strengthened and exchanges of delegations at all levels held regularly. The two countries cooperate closely and support each other in regional and international forums.

South Korea continues to be a leading economic partner of and the largest investor in Viet Nam with total investment capital of US$86 as of April 2024. South Korea is also the second largest partner in ODA cooperation of Viet Nam, the third largest partner in terms of labour and trade, and the largest source of tourists to Viet Nam in 2023.

Bilateral cooperation in other areas, including culture, education, labour, healthcare, people-to-people exchange and local collaboration has been promoted. The Vietnamese community in South Korea now numbers more than 270,000.

Prime Minister Pham visit will focus on intensifying cooperation in traditional fields such as politics, national defence, security, economy, labour, culture, tourism, science and technology, healthcare, education, as well as emerging areas in which  South Korea has strength and Viet Nam has demand like semi-conductor, supporting industry, digital and green transition, circular economy, climate change.

Pham will also seek South Korea's continued support for the Vietnamese community in the RoK and enhance bilateral collaboration in issues of regional and international concerns./.