Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tung made the remark during an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visit, which will start on December 12.
Tung said that the Vietnam - RoK relations have thrived in a fast and effective manner across all spheres.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tung |
The countries maintained contacts high-ranking officials via both in-person and virtual meetings amid COVID-19. Diplomatic activities reflecting mutual understanding and trust between the countries have been strengthened.
The ambassador underlined that economic cooperation is considered a key factor and greatly contributes to the bilateral relations, even in the context of COVID-19.
According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam - RoK trade hit 56.4 billion USD in the first nine months of 2021, posting a year-on-year expansion of 18.7 percent.
The RoK has been among leading foreign investors of Vietnam. The country channelled 4.36 billion USD into Vietnam in 11 months of this year, up 20 percent compared to the same period last year.
As of late November, total registered capital of the RoK had reached 74.14 billion USD with 9,203 valid projects, coming first in terms of registered capital and project number out of 141 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
The Northeastern Asian nation is the second largest official development assistance (ODA) provider of Vietnam, offering 1.5 billion USD in the 2016-20.
It is also the second major labor market of Vietnam and the two sides renewed a memorandum of understanding on the issue this year.
The RoK is a significant source of tourists for Vietnam and the tourism cooperation is projected to recover in the coming time.
More than 216,000 Vietnamese are living in the RoK, and the RoK community in Vietnam comprises about 160,000 people. Over 60 Vietnamese localities inked cooperation agreements with their RoK counterparts.
The countries’ successful cooperation has offered a new international position for both nations, the diplomat said.
Vietnam and the RoK are joining hands in the implementation of the RoK’s New Southern Policy and cooperation programs in the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), thereby contributing to peace, stability in the region and maintaining ASEAN’s central role.
The visit will demonstrate Party and State leaders' attention to the Vietnamese community in the RoK, Tung said, adding during his trip, the N.A. Chairman will attend an inaugural ceremony of the new headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK.
The ambassador said that Vietnam and the RoK hold huge potential and opportunities for cooperation thanks to political determination and vision of the two countries' leaders, together with similarities in the nations’ history and culture.
Source: VNA