President Lee Calls for Energy and Transport Cooperation... To Lam Says He Values Ties with Korea

\r \r\n\r [The Financial News, Hanoi (Vietnam) = Reporter Choi Jong-geun]President Lee Jae Myung officially began his summit schedule with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President of Vietnam, on the 22nd local time. Lee and Lam met again in Hanoi eight months later and held a summit. In August, Lam made a state visit to Korea as the first guest of state since the launch of the Lee administration. The meeting was seen as especially meaningful because Lee was also receiving the first summit guest since Lam was elected president on the 7th.
At the summit held at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, President Lee said, "I hope our two countries will pursue mutually beneficial cooperation not only in trade and investment, but also in energy security, transport infrastructure, science and technology, education and culture, and deliver practical results that people and businesses in both countries can feel."
He also said, "At a time when geopolitical uncertainty is rising to unprecedented levels and global competition for technological supremacy is intensifying, I hope we can transform the quantitative achievements our peoples, businesses and governments have built together into qualitative progress and move forward together toward a future of sustainable shared prosperity."
Lee emphasized that Korea and Vietnam are highly active in exchanges, to the extent that they are among each other's top three trading partners.
He added, "The two countries are each other's third-largest trading partners. Korea is Vietnam's largest investor, and more than 10,000 Korean companies are operating in Vietnam, contributing to economic growth in both countries and to Vietnam's industrial development. Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992, Korea and Vietnam have developed the best possible cooperative relationship in just 34 years across politics, the economy and people-to-people exchanges. About 5 million people from both countries visit each other every year, and exchanges are expanding day by day in virtually every field, including culture, education and the environment."
Lam responded in kind. He said, "Today's visit by the President is the clearest and most definitive demonstration of the strong, effective and highly trusted comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries," adding, "I congratulate the Korean government and people on the excellent achievements they have made recently under your leadership."
He continued, "I am deeply impressed by President Lee Jae Myung's principles of state administration. Based on your core values, leadership and strategic vision, I believe Korea will achieve even more miracles on the Han River and contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world." Lam also said, "Vietnam has always valued its relationship with Korea in the process of pursuing an independent, creative, multilateral foreign policy and active, inclusive international peace. We hope to work with Korea for substantive, effective and creative progress in bilateral relations across all fields," adding, "I am ready to have in-depth discussions with you on major ways to deepen the Korea-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest."
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter