South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin, fourth from right on the front row, and H.E. Nguyen Vu Tung, third from right on the front row, Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea, pose with participants at an event aimed at marking the 30th anniversary between South Korea and Vietnam in Seoul on Dec. 22. Photo by Yeo Hong-il/Korea News Plus

MOFAT hosts a commemorating event to celebrate lasting bilateral relationship

South Korea and Vietnam have celebrated the 30th anniversary of their bilateral ties, which fell on Dec. 22 this year, marking their diplomatic achievements during the past three decades.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAT) hosted a diplomatic reception to identify the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations under the auspices of Minister Park Jin last week.

In his congratulatory speech, Minister Park said that the two countries had achieved remarkable cooperation in various fields based on the efforts of the people and governments of the two nations.

In a video message, Park’s Vietnamese counterpart evaluated the close cooperation, saying that the foundation for further deepening and expanding cooperation was laid.

Meanwhile, Vietnam also held a lighting event to commemorate the anniversary to mark the two countries’ flags and congratulatory phrases on high-rise buildings in Hanoi, according to MOFAT.

According to the Embassy of Vietnam in Seoul, President Yoon Suk-yeol held his first summit with Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the former’s office in Seoul early this month.

They decided to upgrade bilateral relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

At a joint news conference after their talks, both leaders announced their adoption of a joint statement on the partnership.

“We want to usher in a new era of bilateral ties through a comprehensive strategic partnership between Korea and Vietnam,” President Yoon said.

“We will consider measures to improve the effectiveness of existing strategic dialogue on diplomacy and national security and further develop it.”

He added that his administration would actively support raising Vietnam’s capacity to enforce maritime law to contribute to regional maritime security and expand bilateral cooperation in the defense industry.

Saying documents on cooperation were signed in the presence of both leaders after their summit, President Yoon said, “Through this, we expect to expand prospects for bilateral cooperation by covering key economic and national security issues.”

On the stability of supply chains, he said, “We agreed to mutually recognize the huge potential for bilateral cooperation in the development of rare earth minerals abundant in Vietnam and decided to seek concrete measures to that end.”

“Along with building a mutually reciprocal supply chain, we will boost bilateral cooperation in areas such as finance, information, and communications, advanced technology, construction of infrastructure, and energy,” he added.

“We will expand tailored developmental cooperation with Vietnam in cutting-edge science and technology, health and infrastructure.”

In a separate announcement, President Phuc said both sides agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

“There is still plenty of room to greatly enhance trust-based bilateral cooperation,” he noted.

“We agreed to diversify exchanges, contact, and visits at all levels, including high-ranking officials, and immediately share information and opinions on bilateral ties and regional situations under a flexible method.”

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