PM Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and former President Lee Myung Bak, Ha Noi, October 21, 2014 - Photo: VGP

The government leader expressed his delight at the comprehensive and vigorous development of the Viet Nam-RoK relations, notably since they established a strategic partnership in 2009.

“Viet Nam places special importance on stepping up mutually beneficial cooperation with the RoK across a variety of fields with a focus on economics, trade, investment, tourism, politics- diplomacy, defense – security, labour and cross-cultural exchange.” PM Dung told his guest.

He believed that with the combined efforts, both nations will soon finalize the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations towards the early signing of the pact by the end of 2014.

PM Dung highly appreciated the former President’s visit with the involvement of a delegation of leading Korean firms and his previous significant contributions to fostering bilateral ties, hoping that Mr. Lee will continue to make efforts for closer ties between the two nations.

For his part, former President Lee said the Korean business community is eager to seek investment opportunities in Viet Nam, evidenced by a host of Korean high-tech firms coming to the country this time.

“The current unbalanced trade between the two countries shows a fact that Korean firms have been investing more and more in Viet Nam resulting in its growing demand for equipment, raw materials, fuel from the RoK.”

Mr. Lee said he hopes the Vietnamese Government will continue to support Korean businesses in Viet Nam and the FTA will be signed soon, providing leverage for stronger economic, trade and investment cooperation. - VOV