Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted separate receptions in Hanoi on July 7 for the Ambassadors of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Sri Lanka to Vietnam, during which he hoped they would contribute to fostering bilateral relations.

Welcoming RoK Ambassador Lee Hyuk, PM Phuc affirmed that the two countries’ strategic cooperative partnership has seen progresses, in the fields of politics, security, defence, investment and trade.

The RoK currently ranks first in investment, third in trade, and second in providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, he noted.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (r) and RoK Ambassador Lee Hyuk

He expressed his hope that the two sides will continue strengthening political cooperation and senior delegation exchanges in order to consolidate political trust and facilitate collaboration in other areas.

Vietnam is stepping up administrative procedure reform to create a favourable business and investment environment for investors. Therefore, the leader expects a new wave of investment from the RoK for the interests to the two countries’ people, especially in the context of their participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

He suggested both nations intensify people-to-people diplomacy to tighten bilateral friendship and organise activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2017.

The RoK ambassador, who has freshly begun his working term in Vietnam, vowed to do his utmost to nurture the RoK-Vietnam strategic cooperative partnership.

He informed the host that more and more Korean enterprises have interest in investing in Vietnam in different fields, including energy, transport, finance.

He showed his belief that with both sides’ efforts; their two-way trade will surge and achieve the target of 70 billion USD in 2020.

At his meeting with Sri Lankan Ambassador Saranya Hasathi Urgodawatt Dissanayke, PM Phuc stated that the two countries should intensify economic cooperation as bilateral trade reached only 200 million USD in 2015.

The diplomat said that in her position, she helped to speed up the signing of numerous cooperative agreements in trade, investment and tourism.

She confirmed to try her best to further promote the two nations’ relations, particularly in trade.

Source: VNA