Deputy Minister Lee Tae-ho Holds Series of Consultations with Vietnamese Foreign Minister and Deputy Minister... Agreement on Implementing 'Special Entry Procedures'

Agreement on Special Korea-Vietnam Entry Procedures from New Year, Expected to Ease Business Travelers' Inconvenience
Discussion on New Southern Policy Plus and Strengthening Korea-ASEAN and Korea-Mekong Cooperation Measures

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Lee Tae-ho, the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Vietnam, met with Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, on the 4th and agreed to implement the Korea-Vietnam 'special entry procedures.' He also held talks with Le Hai Trung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 5th, Vice Minister Lee agreed to implement special entry procedures between Korea and Vietnam during his visit to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs following his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Minh the previous day. The special entry procedures between the two countries will be implemented starting January 1 next year. This is the sixth case following China in May, and it is expected that the entry procedures for Korean businesspeople into Vietnam will be greatly simplified.

Vice Minister Lee said, "Through this agreement reached after long-term consultations, we hope that the inconveniences faced by our businesspeople visiting Vietnam will be alleviated, and cooperation for economic recovery between the two countries can accelerate." He added that continuous consultations will be held to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of the system during the implementation process and to resume regular round-trip flights as soon as possible through close cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister Minh also welcomed the agreement on the implementation of special entry procedures and stated that the two countries will continue to cooperate to effectively achieve the dual goals of quarantine and economic recovery.

Both sides also agreed on the need to further strengthen the Korea-Vietnam strategic cooperative partnership through close communication, including more active high-level mutual visits, on important occasions such as the inauguration of Vietnam's new leadership next year and the 30th anniversary of Korea-Vietnam diplomatic relations in 2022.

Vice Minister Lee said, "Vietnam, as the ASEAN chair during the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully concluded the ASEAN-related summit last month," adding, "Based on the New Southern Policy Plus announced by President Moon Jae-in at this meeting and the Korea-Mekong strategic partnership established at the President's proposal, the bilateral relationship as well as Korea-ASEAN and Korea-Mekong cooperation can be further strengthened."

Additionally, Vice Minister Lee held a separate meeting with Deputy Minister Trung on the occasion of attending the 8th Korea-Mekong Business Forum. Vice Minister Lee evaluated that despite the COVID-19 situation, active high-level exchanges, quarantine cooperation, essential personnel movement, and economic recovery cooperation between the two countries, as well as close coordination in regional cooperation such as Korea-ASEAN and Korea-Mekong, have continued, highlighting the importance and uniqueness of bilateral cooperation and strengthening trust and friendship.

Deputy Minister Trung expressed strong agreement and conveyed deep gratitude for the various support provided by Korea regarding Vietnam's COVID-19 quarantine efforts and the recent flood recovery in central Vietnam.

The two vice ministers also exchanged views on bilateral issues, including the previously agreed special entry procedures, and regional cooperation matters. Deputy Minister Trung stated, "The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will actively take necessary measures to ensure the smooth implementation of the agreed special entry procedures between the two countries," expressing regret over the delay in resuming regular air routes between the two countries due to quarantine issues and promising that Vietnam will continue efforts to resume air routes between the two countries.

Vice Minister Lee requested Vietnam's cooperation to resolve various difficulties faced by Korean companies exporting or investing in Vietnam, and Deputy Minister Trung responded that they would actively review the Korean side's requests together with relevant ministries and agencies. Both vice ministers agreed to make necessary efforts under closer consultations to ensure that mutually beneficial relations in trade, investment, development cooperation, and labor cooperation between the two countries continue to develop.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Vice Minister Lee's visit to Vietnam was made in the process of actively promoting our government's New Southern Policy, now entering its fourth year," adding, "It is evaluated as a good opportunity to continue the momentum of the Korea-ASEAN and Korea-Mekong summits held last November and to further strengthen cooperation between the two sides related to the New Southern Policy Plus."