Talks were held between Party General Secretary To Lam and President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Jae Myung on August 11, immediately following a solemn official welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese Party chief.

At the talks, President Lee Jae Myung warmly welcomed Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, along with the Vietnamese high-level delegation, on their state visit to the RoK, noting that they were the first foreign guests to visit after the new government took office. He affirmed that the RoK always regards Vietnam as a key partner in implementing its foreign policy in the region.

President Lee emphasized that this first visit to the RoK by Party General Secretary To Lam in his capacity as Vietnam’s top leader holds special significance, serving as a strong impetus to deepen mutual understanding, consolidate political trust, and further promote and strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the RoK and Vietnam in the next phase.

Congratulating Vietnam on its tremendous development achievements, growing international stature, and prestige, President Lee expressed admiration for the great nation and resilient Vietnamese people who struggled for national liberation. He expressed confidence that the Vietnamese people will continue to achieve new milestones in national development and, under Party General Secretary To Lam’s leadership, Vietnam will soon become a developed country and a regional hub. Affirming Vietnam’s utmost importance in the region, President Lee stressed the RoK’s readiness to accompany Vietnam on its future development journey.

The Vietnamese Party chief sincerely thanked President Lee, the RoK government, and people for the warm, friendly, and meticulous reception. He highly appreciated the RoK President’s invitation for the Party General Secretary and spouse, along with the Vietnamese high-level delegation, to visit the RoK immediately after his election, reflecting the RoK’s high regard and priority for Vietnam and the Vietnam–RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.

Party General Secretary To Lam expressed confidence that President Lee will lead the RoK to create new “Han River Miracles” in the near future. He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent priority of its relationship with the RoK in its foreign policy and expressed the desire to work with President Lee and RoK leaders to steer the bilateral cooperation towards new, substantive, effective, sustainable, and long-term breakthroughs in all fields, commensurate with the highest diplomatic framework established by both sides.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the two leaders exchanged comprehensive and strategic views on their countries’ situations and bilateral relations. Both expressed satisfaction at the remarkable development and many highlights in Vietnam-RoK relations after more than 30 years of diplomatic ties, especially since upgrading to a comprehensive strategic partnership and jointly implementing the action plan under this highest diplomatic framework.

President Lee agreed with Party General Secretary To Lam’s view that Vietnam and the RoK are in very favorable strategic conditions to further consolidate political trust, enhance effective cooperation across multiple fields, complement each other’s strengths, and jointly develop and grow in the new era of the two nations.

Host and guest consented to continue firmly consolidating political trust and intensify strategic coordination in key fields such as diplomacy, defence, and security. They also agreed to expand cooperation through all channels including Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people-to-people exchanges, thereby laying a foundation to promote and broaden bilateral cooperation across a variety of fields.

The two leaders agreed to direct relevant agencies and localities to effectively carry out bilateral cooperation agreements, especially the “Action Plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the RoK.”

Both leaders shared the common view of jointly shaping and implementing a new strategic vision for Vietnam–RoK economic linkage, shifting from market-based cooperation to joint development of production chains and high-quality human resources; moving from extensive growth to in-depth development, prioritizing quality, efficiency, sustainability, innovation capacity, and long-term sustainable development benefits; elevating Vietnam–RoK economic linkage to a new level that meets the current needs and interests of both countries.

They agreed to continue facilitating trade and opening markets for each other’s goods; support enhancing Vietnamese enterprises’ capacity to integrate deeper into global supply chains of RoK businesses, aiming to reach a bilateral trade turnover of US$150 billion by 2030.

The two leaders concurred to boost science and technology cooperation to become a pillar and a new bright spot in bilateral relations, aiming for Vietnam to become a value-creating partner with the RoK in science, technology, and innovation.

Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to facilitate major RoK enterprises to expand investment in Vietnam, prioritizing fields where the RoK has strengths and that align with Vietnam’s new development orientation such as infrastructure development, production of high-tech electronic equipment, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and smart urban development.

President Lee expressed the RoK’s hope that Vietnam would support its enterprises in expanding and improving long-term business and investment effectiveness in Vietnam, and assist RoK companies to participate in Vietnam’s key projects. He emphasized that the RoK continues to regard Vietnam as a strategic partner in development cooperation and pledged to further expand official development assistance (ODA) in areas of Vietnamese interest such as infrastructure, research and development, and climate change response. The RoK President also affirmed plans to increase quotas and expand sectors accepting Vietnamese labor.

Both sides agreed to bolster cultural, educational cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, viewing cultural exchange not only as a bonding glue but also as a strategic foundation for the long-term partnership between the two countries.

Party General Secretary To Lam requested that the RoK share experience in developing cultural industries and entertainment, and to coordinate soon to establish a Vietnamese Cultural Center in the RoK; enhance cooperation between Vietnamese educational institutions and leading RoK universities and enterprises to create high-quality human resources suitable to the development orientations of both countries.

Delighted by the 5 million tourist visits exchanged between the two countries in 2024, the leaders expressed their desire to further vigorously develop tourism cooperation. President Lee pledged to continue promoting friendship and practical cooperation between localities in both countries, and to closely coordinate in protecting the legitimate rights and interests of their citizens residing in each other’s country.

Within the framework of the talks, Party General Secretary To Lam and President Lee also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. They shared the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, ensuring legitimate rights and interests in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). They also agreed that progress in inter-Korean relations and establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential for peace and prosperity not only in the peninsula but also for the international community.

Immediately after the talks, Party General Secretary To Lam and President Lee witnessed the exchange of 10 cooperation documents between ministries, agencies, and organizations of the two countries covering defence, security, economics, trade, labor, and culture.

Following the signing ceremony, the two top leaders jointly met the press to announce the results of the high-level talks.

Party leader To Lam, RoK President hold joint press briefing on successful talks

VOV.VN - Party General Secretary To Lam said that the two sides held very successful talks during a press briefing to share the outcomes of the discussion with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on August 11, as part of his state visit to the East Asian nation.

Party General Secretary witnesses signing ceremony of Vietnam-RoK cooperation documents

VOV.VN - Party General Secretary To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (RoK), together with high-level delegations from both countries, witnessed a signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents between the two nations as part of the former’s state visit to the RoK, at noon on August 11 (local time).

State welcome in RoK marks Vietnamese Party chief’s official visit

VOV.VN - A state welcome ceremony was held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on August 11 for Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, who are on a state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) from August 10 to 13 at the invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse.