Promoting Vietnam-Korea relations to develop more strongly, substantially and effectively

The National Assembly Chairman believes that the Vietnamese and Korean National Assemblies are fully qualified to establish an exemplary relationship, becoming a model in parliamentary relations in the world.

Chủ tịch Quốc hội Vương Đình Huệ tiếp nguyên Chủ tịch Quốc hội Hàn Quốc Park Byeong-Seug. Nguồn: TTXVN)

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue receives former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-Seug. Source: VNA)

On the evening of July 24, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received former Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-seug.

The National Assembly Chairman expressed his pleasure at meeting former National Assembly Chairman Park Byeong-seug again, and said that he always keeps good memories of the official visit to Korea in 2021 and the warm welcome and special feelings that the National Assembly, Government and people of Korea had for the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized that 2023 is a very special year in the relationship between the two countries when Vietnam welcomed the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on an official visit in the first days of the year and most recently, the President of the Republic of Korea paid a state visit, along with a delegation of leading Korean businesses.

On the basis of the new Cooperation Agreement between the two countries' National Assemblies signed during the official visit to Korea in 2021, the National Assembly Chairman believes that the two countries' National Assemblies are fully qualified to establish an exemplary relationship, becoming a model in parliamentary relations in the world.

Appreciating and sincerely thanking former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug for his important contributions to promoting the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the National Assembly Chairman emphasized that with his prestige in Korean politics and in his new position as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the Korean National Assembly, former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug will continue to support and contribute to the cooperative relationship between the National Assembly and parliamentarians of the two countries, promoting the Vietnam-Korea relationship to develop increasingly strongly, substantially and effectively.

Recalling the official visit to Korea by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, which took place during the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, the former Speaker of the Korean National Assembly affirmed that National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had made very important contributions to the relationship between the two countries, especially the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed during this visit, which have been and are being actively implemented by relevant Vietnamese agencies. Many projects signed during the visit were implemented immediately and brought about immediate results.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and former Speaker of the Korean National Assembly Park Byeong-seug said that the two governments need to soon implement the Social Insurance Agreement signed in December 2021 to promote cooperation in seasonal labor and holiday workers. The former Speaker of the Korean National Assembly said that he will closely monitor and promote the implementation of this important Agreement.

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the two countries to form a number of strategic supply chains in which both sides have needs, potential and strengths, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and former Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea had an open discussion on areas in which the two countries need to continue to promote cooperation, including further strengthening the creation of a favorable legal framework to promote the development of bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his pleasure at meeting former National Assembly Chairman Park Byeong-seug again. Source: VNA)

At the meeting, the two sides discussed Korea's interest in expanding the scale of ODA provision to Vietnam, increasing the level of incentives and applying loan conditions in line with international practices; continuing to support Vietnam in operating the VKIST Institute in phase 1, and soon supporting phase 2; encouraging large Korean corporations to open innovation centers and R&D centers in Vietnam; sponsoring the Vietnam-Korea student exchange program; promoting cooperation in new areas with great potential, such as: equitable energy transition, digital transformation, digital economy, semiconductors; visa policy for expert workers; expanding Korean educational institutions in Vietnam; cooperating and sharing experiences in perfecting policies and laws related to global minimum tax...

Regarding visa policy, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the Vietnamese National Assembly has revised this policy in a breakthrough direction. This policy will take effect from August 15. Accordingly, e-visas will be valid for up to 90 days instead of 30 days under the old law. All visas are issued on an electronic platform, and the length of stay for foreigners in Vietnam has also increased from 15 days to 45 days, creating very favorable conditions for foreign citizens, including Korean citizens and experts, to enter Vietnam.

On this occasion, the National Assembly Chairman reiterated the invitation to the Korean National Assembly to send a delegation to attend the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference to be held in Vietnam next September. Affirming that he would convey the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to the Korean National Assembly, former National Assembly Chairman Park Byeong-seug emphasized that the exchange and cooperation between young parliamentarians of different countries is extremely important for consolidating and strengthening the sustainable relationship between the National Assemblies/Parliaments of different countries.

Phó Thủ tướng Lê Minh Khái tiếp nguyên Chủ tịch Quốc hội Hàn Quốc Park Byeong-Seug. (Nguồn: TTXVN)

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai received former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-Seug. (Source: VNA)

Also on the afternoon of July 24, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai received former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-seug and members of the National Assembly who are visiting Vietnam.

Welcoming Mr. Park Byeong-Seug and the parliamentarians, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai shared that the visit took place after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and is in the best development period ever; he believes that the visit will contribute to strengthening exchanges between the two countries’ National Assemblies in particular and the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in particular, deepening and developing better.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, after more than 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations (since 1992), although not long, the Vietnam-Korea relationship has achieved remarkable developments and become a model in bilateral cooperation between countries.

Political trust between the two countries has been constantly strengthened, especially cooperation in many fields has developed rapidly, effectively and substantially. Korea continues to rank first in direct investment (accumulated to 82.2 billion USD); second in development cooperation, tourism and labor; third in trade cooperation (reaching 88 billion USD in 2022).

A highlight of the cooperative relationship is the presence of more than 200,000 expatriates from each country living, studying and working in the other country, including about 80,000 Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families, which have become a vivid symbol of close exchanges between the people of the two countries. As affirmed by senior leaders, the two countries have become “good friends, good partners, good in-laws” of each other.

Believing that as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the Korean National Assembly, he plays an important role in promoting cooperation between the two countries, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai asked Mr. Park Byeong-seug to pay attention to promoting the implementation of a number of cooperation focuses.

In particular, continue to promote cooperation in the field of defense and security, commensurate with the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Korea; increase support for Vietnam in law enforcement at sea, propose the Korean National Assembly support the two sides to strengthen cooperation in the field of defense industry; continue to support and share a common vision on ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

The Deputy Prime Minister hopes that the two countries will expand their trade scale in a balanced and sustainable manner; Korea will strengthen connections and support Vietnamese enterprises to participate more deeply in the supply chain of Korean enterprises; and expand the scale of ODA provision to Vietnam...

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that the Korean side pay attention to building a safe, sustainable, and increasingly developing Korean-Vietnamese community and further enhancing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Thanking Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai for taking the time to welcome the delegation, former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-seug said that the Korean Government is trying to increase the maximum incentives for funding programs for Vietnam, especially the bilateral loan program from the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund of Korea (EDCF) and the Economic Development Promotion Fund of Korea (EDPF); paying attention to improving the bilateral trade balance. In 2024, Korea will increase the quota for foreign workers, opening up opportunities for Vietnamese workers to work in Korea.

Regarding the large volume of Korean goods transported through the East Sea, Mr. Park Byeong-seug affirmed that Korea always affirms its consistent view that activities in the East Sea must strictly comply with international law; supporting the assurance of safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea.

The former Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea suggested that Vietnam simplify the licensing procedures for experts and skilled workers from this country to work; at the same time, address the educational needs of Korean children and Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families. The demand for students to enroll in school is currently very high, besides the families of experts, workers and multicultural families also have a great demand, but the facilities have not met the demand.

Regarding this proposal, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai affirmed that in order for Korean experts and highly skilled workers to work in Vietnam for a long time, ensuring their children's education is very important. Both countries have a tradition of paying attention to education, and the need for education of Koreans and Korean expatriates is legitimate.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested agencies, units and educational establishments to approach the Hanoi People's Committee to find solutions to arrange suitable land funds; expressed readiness to resolve arising problems.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said the Vietnamese Government will soon amend regulations to create conditions for Korean businesses to attract resources and operate more effectively.

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