Vietnamese, ROK PMs hold phone talks

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his counterpart of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Kim Boo-kyum held a phone talks on July 22 to discuss specific measures promoting bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, towards the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VGP)
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VGP)

The two PMs agreed to work closely together, maintain all-level exchanges to bolster joint work in all areas and exchanges between the two countries' people. They also vowed to regularly discuss key issues in bilateral ties in the near future.

They also reached consensus on achieving the goal of lifting two-way trade to US$100 billion in a balanced trade manner, including facilitating Vietnam’s exports of strength such as agro-forestry-fishery products and seasonal fruits.

Vietnam encourages and creates favourable conditions for ROK firms to continue expanding and shifting investment to the country while actively assisting those hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

The ROK side vowed to continue extending the supply of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam.

Both sides will effectively maintain bilateral labour cooperation and make it easier for the Vietnamese in the ROK and the Koreans in Vietnam to have a stable and safe life, particularly amid the current pandemic, as well as step up several projects in national defence-security.

About the fight against COVID-19, PM Chinh said Vietnam is actively implementing a vaccine strategy. He suggested the ROK continue assisting Vietnam in receiving vaccines via COVAX Facility at the earliest, and share vaccine supplies to Vietnam as many as possible.

The two leaders also promised to direct relevant agencies share experience and work closely together on the research and transfer of vaccine production technology. They also pledged to vaccinate foreign citizens, including those from the two countries.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, they committed to enhancing collaboration at multilateral forums.

They shared a joint vision on ensuring security, maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea/South China Sea, maintain an environment of peace and stability, settle disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, while seriously realising the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), toward the early signing of an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).