By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol received Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is on an official visit to South Korea, on July 2 and exchanged views on ways to further develop bilateral relations.

President Yoon expressed his hope that trade and investment will be further boosted by continuing to strengthen institutional cooperation, including simplifying customs clearance between the two countries, and that the transfer of Korean retired warships and retired patrol boats and defense cooperation will proceed smoothly to strengthen strategic cooperation in the defense and security fields.

Prime Minister Chinh thanked President Yoon for his hospitality and noted that the two countries have made progress in many areas since the President's state visit to Vietnam in June last year, based on a comprehensive strategic partnership, and have great potential for further progress in the future.

The President called on the Vietnamese leadership, including Prime Minister Chinh, to pay attention to and actively support the activities of Korean companies in Vietnam, and thanked them for their support. 

In particular, he hoped that Korean companies with excellent technology would participate in Vietnam's LNG power generation projects, core mineral development and processing, and contribute to Vietnam's energy transition efforts. 

In response, Prime Minister Chinh highly appreciated the contributions of Korean businesses to Vietnam's economic development, and said that Vietnam has made and will continue to make efforts to improve regulations to encourage Korean businesses to invest in Vietnam.

The President expressed his hope that Vietnam, a key partner in the implementation of the ASEAN-ROK Solidarity Initiative (KASI), will continue to work together for the freedom, peace, and prosperity of Vietnam and the Indo-Pacific region. 

In particular, the President expressed his appreciation for Vietnam's contribution to the development of ASEAN-ROK relations through its role as the ASEAN-Korea Dialogue Facilitation Unit for the past three years (August 2021 – July 2024). 

The two leaders agreed to continue to work closely together in the implementation of the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is being promoted in the context of the 35th anniversary of the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations in October this year.

The President emphasized that as North Korea continues to develop nuclear and ballistic missile programs and provocations in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions, it is crucial for the international community to affirm its resolve to denuclearize the DPRK and fully implement Security Council sanctions, and called on Vietnam to play an active role in ensuring a united and decisive response at the ASEAN level. 

Prime Minister Chinh expressed support for the President's initiative on peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and the two sides agreed to further strengthen strategic communication and cooperation for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peace and stability in the region.