[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with Bo Ban Truong, the 5th-ranking Standing Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at the Government Seoul Office on the 1st, exchanging views on Korea-Vietnam bilateral relations, economic cooperation, and coordination on the international stage.
Standing Secretary Truong, the youngest member of the Politburo, visited Korea for the first time as a high-level delegation to mark the 30th anniversary of Korea-Vietnam diplomatic relations.
Prime Minister Han said, "The friendly cooperative relationship between Korea and Vietnam will last not just 30 years but over 300 years," adding, "We expect Vietnam's role as one of the most important ASEAN countries in strengthening cooperation with ASEAN."
He continued, "To overcome the global economic slowdown, cooperation among allied countries is crucial," and mentioned, "It is necessary for both countries to strengthen cooperation not only in trade and investment but also in high value-added sectors such as advanced technology and finance."
Furthermore, he requested attention and support to expand the additional entry of Korean financial institutions, including banks, into Vietnam so that Korean companies operating in Vietnam, including small and medium-sized enterprises, can conduct their business activities smoothly.
Standing Secretary Truong introduced various efforts by the Vietnamese government to support Korean companies, such as the dialogue with Korean businesspeople hosted by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh following the Korea-Vietnam Prime Ministerial phone call on the 5th of last month.
Prime Minister Han responded by expressing his expectation that human exchanges, which had been subdued due to COVID-19, would become active again, emphasizing the Korean government's efforts and capabilities to host the 2030 Busan World Expo and requesting Vietnam's active support.
Standing Secretary Truong also conveyed again the message from the Vietnamese Prime Minister inviting Prime Minister Han to visit Vietnam at the earliest possible date.
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