During the official visit to Vietnam by South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik on the afternoon of November 21, high-level meetings with General Secretary Tô Lâm and President Lương Cường set out major directions aimed at advancing the Vietnam–South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into a more substantive and comprehensive phase of development.
Consolidating Political Trust – The Foundation of Sustainable Cooperation
At the Party Central Committee headquarters, General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasized the significance of the visit and affirmed that Vietnam–South Korea relations are entering a new phase of opportunity, thanks to shared strategic interests and the cooperation achieved over more than three decades. Maintaining exchanges between party, state, government, and parliamentary channels is considered a key factor to ensure a stable long-term cooperation environment.
Speaker Woo Won Shik expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and praised Vietnam’s development achievements, stressing that Seoul regards Hanoi as an important partner in the region. He expressed confidence that Vietnam will achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2045 and affirmed that South Korea will accompany Vietnam on this journey.
Promoting Economic and Trade Cooperation Towards Balance
A key objective highlighted by General Secretary Tô Lâm is to raise bilateral trade turnover to USD 150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner. To achieve this, he called on South Korea to facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ deeper participation in global supply chains, an area in which South Korea has strong advantages.
Additionally, supporting enterprises from both countries in networking, overcoming difficulties, and accessing key projects was emphasized. Speaker Woo Won Shik affirmed that South Korea wishes to expand investment in Vietnam and requested continued support regarding procedures, legal frameworks, and investment environment.
Prioritizing Science, Technology, and Digital Transformation
At a long-term strategic level, both sides agreed to promote new fields such as artificial intelligence, next-generation networks, data centers, and digital infrastructure. These are seen as “pillars of next-generation cooperation,” driving digital economic growth and expanding cooperation opportunities in the technological era.
Enhancing People-to-People Exchanges and Social Ties
Vietnam–South Korea relations are uniquely grounded in rapidly growing Vietnamese and Korean communities in each other’s countries over the past decade. General Secretary Tô Lâm proposed considering visa simplification or even exemption for Vietnamese citizens to facilitate labor, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges.
Speaker Woo Won Shik acknowledged this, noting that people-to-people exchanges are a “soft power” that strengthens bilateral relations. In 2024, exchanges reached 5 million visits, 2,500 times higher than in 1992, highlighting the special bond between the two nations.
Shaping the Future of Strategic Cooperation
The meetings on November 21 demonstrated the strong determination of Vietnamese and South Korean leaders to expand cooperation across multiple dimensions. With a foundation of sustainable political trust, complementary economic advantages, and increasingly deep social ties, the Vietnam–South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is expected to continue growing dynamically, contributing positively to regional peace and stability while delivering tangible benefits for both peoples.