According to Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, the fact that South Korea is hosting To Lam as its first “state guest” clearly shows the high value Seoul places on both the bilateral relationship and the figure of the Indochinese communist top leader.

Furthermore, the visit takes place in a complex regional and international context, marked by growing challenges in the political, security, economic, trade, and investment spheres, he noted.

“In this framework, Vietnam and South Korea have established themselves as key strategic partners in multiple sectors,” the Vice Foreign Minister emphasized, viewing the trip as a crucial opportunity for both sides to define new directions and establish concrete measures to substantively, comprehensively, and effectively strengthen their partnership.”

To Lam’s visit to Seoul is also expected to open new horizons of cooperation in areas with great potential, such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, and to strengthen economic collaboration as a fundamental pillar of bilateral ties.

The fact that the two countries’ export structures are clearly complementary and with little direct competition has boosted trade, which is projected to reach a total value of USD 150 billion by 2030.

As of last May, according to the VNA news agency, South Korea is the largest investor in Vietnam, with USD 94 billion and 10,203 projects, representing 23.5 percent of the total. of projects and 18.1 percent of foreign direct investment (FDI) capital. jdt/mem/mpm