Vietnam, RoK told to elevate trade turnover to US$100 billion
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested Vietnam and the Republic of Korea should strive to achieve US$100 billion in bilateral trade this year, while promoting other areas of cooperation.
At a reception for Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Wha who is an official visit to Vietnam from September 17-18, PM Phuc highlighted her visit as a contribution to strengthening the relationship and special friendship between the two nations.
The Government chief stated that the two countries are strategic, trustworthy, and benefit-sharing partners and the RoK is currently taking the lead in terms of investment in Vietnam.
He also affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to offer best possible conditions for Korean experts and entrepreneurs to enter the nation.
Vietnam supports the RoK’s New Southern Policy and hopes that the two sides will maintain high-level exchanges on the basis of ensured pandemic prevention and control as a mean of boosting bilateral cooperation, he said.
PM Phuc asked the RoK to carry out effective measures and create favourable procedures so that both nations can reach the trade target of US$100 billion in the time ahead and balance bilateral trade.
Regarding investment, Vietnam is ready to provide optima conditions for foreign investors and the nation has decided to reopen commercial routes to a number of countries and regions, including the RoK, Phuc said.
Many major Korean businesses have been operating successfully in Vietnam, thus contributing to bilateral ties, he added while stating that the Vietnamese Government pays attention to all opinions from Korean firms.
For her part, the Korean minister greatly valued the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to enhance bilateral relations despite COVID-19 impacts, expressing her hope that the two sides will resume high-level mutual visits at an early date.
She also showed her impression of Vietnam’s COVID-19 containment efforts and said that a large number of Koreans are desiring to enter Vietnam for investment and business purposes.
The RoK is ready to facilitate entry for Vietnamese people in the current context, the Korean diplomat said, adding that she hopes the two countries will soon reach a consensus on special entry procedures so as to further facilitate Korean experts and entrepreneurs’ entry into Vietnam.
She suggested both countries soon sign an agreement on social insurance to better ensure employees’ interests. She also proposed Vietnam include the RoK in the reference country list in bidding for medical equipment procurement as her country has strength in producing international-standard medical equipment.
During the meeting, the Vietnamese government leader also voiced his hope that the RoK will reduce and then eliminate binding conditions for its ODA and concessional loans while expanding non-refundable aid for Vietnam, receive more Vietnamese guest workers, and provide more support for the Vietnamese community in the RoK, particularly amid the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Concerning the East Sea issue, he hoped the RoK will keep backing Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance in this regard, including maintaining peace and stability, ensuring safety and security of navigation and overflight in the waters, and complying with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
