PM Chinh’s Visit to RoK a Success
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s recent four-day official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) has been deemed a success, highlighted in five key areas, according to Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.
Significant Outcomes and Bilateral Cooperation
First, the visit yielded important results, including a joint statement encompassing eight major points. These highlighted the progress in the Vietnam-RoK relationship since its elevation to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. The statement also detailed specific measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields such as politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, science and technology, culture, tourism, labor, and people-to-people exchange. A total of 40 cooperation agreements were signed, covering areas like digital transformation, renewable energy, green transition, climate change, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and collaboration among small- and medium-sized enterprises, culture, and tourism.
Strengthening Political Trust
Second, the visit reinforced mutual political trust and strengthened personal relationships between senior leaders of the two nations. FM Son noted that leaders from both countries affirmed their commitment to implementing high-level agreements, making their comprehensive partnership more substantive, effective, and enduring. RoK leaders emphasized historical and cultural similarities and economic and human resource complementarities, noting the nearly 300,000 Vietnamese nationals in the RoK and 200,000 Koreans in Vietnam, along with 90,000 Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families. These factors were seen as favorable for strengthening ties. The RoK reaffirmed Vietnam’s centrality in its regional foreign policy, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI). PM Chinh reiterated Vietnam’s support for RoK’s policies and goals, including the “Global Key Country” policy.
Economic, Trade, and Investment Achievements
Third, the visit produced tangible results in the economic, trade, and investment sectors, contributing to the implementation of the action program agreed upon in June 2023. Vietnam and the RoK underscored the importance of economic cooperation and agreed to take specific measures to achieve the target of $100 billion in two-way trade by 2025 and $150 billion by 2030, focusing on a balanced and sustainable direction. They committed to finalizing procedures to open their respective markets for Vietnamese pomelos and Korean melons within the year. RoK leaders reaffirmed their view of Vietnam as a strategic partner in development cooperation, pledging support for Vietnamese firms to integrate more deeply into Korean production and supply chains. The two sides also agreed to bolster cooperation in building stable core mineral supply chains. During the Vietnam-RoK business forum and a seminar with leading RoK economic groups in energy and finance, PM Chinh witnessed the signing of 23 cooperation deals between businesses and localities of both countries. Korean firms praised Vietnam’s investment environment and expressed strong interest in sectors like supporting industries, digital transformation, green economy, semiconductors, environmentally friendly energy, biotechnology, 5G networks, and smart cities.
Human Resources, Labor, Culture, and Tourism Collaboration
Fourth, the visit fostered collaboration in human resources, labor, culture, and tourism. The RoK committed to supporting Vietnam in training agricultural workers and providing favorable conditions for Vietnamese laborers residing and working in the RoK. Both countries agreed to enhance cultural, tourism, and education cooperation, aiming for 5 million people participating in people-to-people exchanges. The RoK will support Vietnam in establishing a consulate general in Busan in 2024 and a Vietnamese cultural center in the RoK, and will aid in promoting Vietnam’s cultural industries. PM Chinh suggested simplifying visa procedures and moving toward visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens.
New Cooperation Opportunities
Fifth, PM Chinh’s visit opened numerous cooperation opportunities in various areas such as innovation, high technology, renewable energy, digital transformation, green transformation, climate change response, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence. The RoK agreed to consider establishing mechanisms to discuss orientations and specific projects in semiconductors, AI, and innovation human resources training. They also pledged $30 million over four years for research and development projects and the second phase of the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) project. The RoK affirmed its support for Vietnam in organizing the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in April 2025.
During the visit from June 30 to July 3, PM Chinh participated in 34 activities. He held talks with his counterpart Han Duck Soo, met with President Yoon Suk Yeol and Speaker of the RoK’s National Assembly Woo Won Shik, delivered a speech on Vietnamese policy at Seoul National University, met with executives of several Korean firms, and visited a Vietnamese-Korean family, as noted by FM Son.
