Yoon: "Strengthen Security Cooperation with Vietnam... Establish a Future-Oriented Relationship"

Written Interview with Vietnam National News Agency... "Must Develop Substantially"
Emphasizing Economic Cooperation, "Will Expand Cooperation Scope to Finance, Distribution, IT, etc."

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 21st, "We will strengthen security cooperation with Vietnam to firmly establish a rules-based order within the Indo-Pacific region." This reflects the judgment that a future-oriented relationship must be established, as the bilateral relationship was elevated to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' last year on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Prior to his three-day state visit to Vietnam starting on the 22nd, President Yoon held a written interview with the local state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA), saying, "It is important for both countries not to be complacent with past achievements but to develop more substantively in step with the rapidly changing domestic and international environment."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, President Yoon emphasized, "Vietnam is a key country in the Indo-Pacific strategy, and economic cooperation between the two countries is important." He mentioned, "The scope of cooperation should be upgraded from manufacturing-centered to service sectors such as finance, distribution, IT, and cultural contents, and the cooperation method should advance into a horizontal division of labor relationship that utilizes each other's strengths. We intend to significantly strengthen cooperation for developing Vietnam's industrial technology capabilities."

He also pledged support for the 'Korea-Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST).' President Yoon said, "On the occasion of this state visit, we will announce a new grant aid project to help strengthen Vietnam's scientific research capabilities. In particular, critical mineral supply chains, energy, digital transformation, smart cities, and climate change response are areas on which the Korean government is focusing for future cooperation with Vietnam."

Regarding cooperation in the diplomatic field, he explained, "The Korean government's Global Pivot State (GPS) vision is an expression of the will to play a more active role and contribute to the region and the international community in line with Korea's enhanced national power and status." President Yoon added, "Accordingly, we intend to seek creative cooperation measures and closely collaborate with Vietnam, a comprehensive strategic partner, in multilateral organizations and forums such as the UN, APEC, and P4G to contribute to peace and prosperity in the international community."

Meanwhile, on the 23rd, President Yoon is scheduled to hold a Korea-Vietnam summit with State President Vo Van Thuong to discuss ways to expand and develop the bilateral relationship elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership. He will also hold individual meetings with Vietnam's top leadership, including Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist Party Secretary who ranks first in the power hierarchy, and carry out official state visit schedules including a state banquet. Accompanying the visit is an economic delegation of 205 members, the largest scale since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, including heads of the top five conglomerates.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.