Bringing Vietnam-Korea relations to new heights

The visit took place in the context of complex and unpredictable developments in the world and the region, which have long-term impacts on the security and development environment of countries. The Asia- Pacific and Indian Ocean regions maintain dynamic development, continue to be the driving force of global growth, and are the focus of major power competition.

Meanwhile, the situation in Korea has gradually stabilized. President Lee Jae Myung has made timely adjustments to stabilize the economy and society, and strengthen domestic solidarity. Regarding foreign affairs, President Lee Jae Myung affirmed to pursue a foreign policy that focuses on national interests on the basis of the Korea-US alliance, promote cooperation with Japan, maintain good relations with ASEAN, and enhance Korea's image globally.

The brilliant development period of bilateral relations

Vietnam-Korea relations are in the best development period ever, especially after the two countries officially upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in December 2022 - a major milestone in the history of bilateral relations. President Lee Jae Myung affirmed that he attaches special importance to the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the overall relations with Asian countries. General Secretary To Lam's State visit to Korea took place in that special context.

General Secretary To Lam received Mr. Park Chang Dal, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea, on July 29, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung:

General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Korea is the first event to welcome a foreign head of state and also the first state visit organized by our people-led government. This shows that Korea attaches great importance to its relations with Vietnam and is a testament to my personal and Korean Government’s strong determination to develop the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries towards the future.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Vu Ho:

First of all, it must be recognized that this visit itself is a prominent event in the bilateral relations. This is the first time that the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam has been invited by the Korean government as a state guest immediately after taking office. President Lee Jae Myung personally directed the reception of the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, requesting ministries and sectors to respond and provide maximum support for the success of the visit.

Vietnam-Korea relations have gone through more than 30 years, achieving many achievements. This is the moment for the two countries to take strategic steps, thereby entering a new stage of development in both quantity and quality.

Political trust between the two countries has been increasingly consolidated with the two sides strongly promoting visits, exchanges and contacts between high-ranking leaders of the two countries; strengthening and deepening cooperation on all channels of the Government, National Assembly, political parties, and social organizations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated with Hung Yen province and the Korean Embassy in Vietnam to organize the “Meet Korea” plenary conference on May 14, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Sustainable cooperation in the new era

Economic and trade cooperation is a bright spot in the relationship between the two countries. Korea is the largest investor in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of 94 billion USD, with 10,203 projects, accounting for 23.5% of the total number of projects and 18.1% of the total registered foreign direct investment in Vietnam (as of May 2025); ranked second in development cooperation with a commitment of 4 billion USD by 2023 and ranked third in trade with 81.5 billion USD by 2024.

The two sides are actively implementing items in the Action Plan to realize the target of bilateral trade turnover reaching 150 billion USD in a more balanced direction by 2030, signed in April 2025. Vietnam has invested in 112 projects in Korea with a total capital of 37.4 million USD.

Regarding development cooperation, the Korean leaders continued to consider Vietnam as a leading strategic development partner in development cooperation; affirmed to cooperate closely to effectively implement development cooperation projects between the two countries, with a scale of 200 million USD in the 2024-2027 period; support the implementation of the second phase of the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology Project; promote loans focusing on the fields of strategic transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure, digital infrastructure and climate change adaptation infrastructure worth 4 billion USD in the 2023-2030 period...

General Secretary To Lam received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam Choi Youngsam, June 5, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Regarding science and technology, the two sides held the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Vietnam-Korea Joint Committee for Science and Technology Cooperation, agreeing on joint research cooperation in 6 areas, including information technology, biotechnology, climate technology, nanotechnology, digital transformation and new energy/renewable energy.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has coordinated with the Ministry of Science, ICT and the Ministry of Startups and Small and Medium Enterprises of Korea to implement a number of projects and memorandums of understanding to support Vietnam in assessing the current state of science and technology to have appropriate policies and cooperate in connecting the innovative startup ecosystem between the two countries. The two sides successfully coordinated to organize the Vietnam-Korea Digital Transformation Forum 2024.

Cooperation in education, culture, sports and tourism has also recorded many achievements. Korea continues to support Vietnam in completing documents and adding Korean language teachers. The two sides coordinate to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation for the 2023-2025 period. Korea has continuously been one of the largest tourist markets for Vietnam. In 2024, 4.6 million Koreans visited Vietnam; in the first 5 months of 2025, 1.9 million Korean tourists visited Vietnam. The two sides regularly coordinate to organize events to promote each country's culture and tourism.

The Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association and the Korean Association in Hai Phong organized a Vietnam-Korea friendship exchange on January 20, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Along with the remarkable developments in relations, people-to-people exchanges and cultural exchanges are also expanding and deepening. Multicultural families are increasingly becoming bridges between the people of the two countries. Regarding local cooperation, there are currently about 100 pairs of local-level relations between the two countries.

The world and regional situation in general, and Vietnam and the Republic of Korea in particular, are entering a new stage of development. General Secretary To Lam’s State visit to the Republic of Korea takes place at an appropriate time for the leaders of both sides to jointly convey the message of determination to cooperate closely and comprehensively for peace, stability and sustainable development. General Secretary To Lam’s State visit this time has special significance, contributing significantly to further strengthening political trust between the two countries, while opening a new chapter for the Vietnam-Republic of Korea relationship.

Publication date: 10/8/2025
Directed by: Chu Hong Thang - Pham Truong Son
Content: Minh Hang - Nguyen Ha
Presented by: Nha Nam
Source: According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VNA

Source: https://nhandan.vn/special/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-tham-han-quoc/index.html