South Korea reaffirms Vietnam as strategic partner in the region

President Luong Cuong held talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on October 30, in Gyeongju City, during his visit to South Korea for the APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2025.

President Cuong said that Vietnam consistently values its relationship with South Korea and wishes for cooperation between the two countries to continue making new, substantive, effective, and more sustainable strides across all sectors.

He proposed that both sides coordinate to implement practical measures to soon achieve the bilateral trade turnover target of $150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner. He affirmed that Vietnam will create favorable conditions for Korean businesses to confidently make a long-term investment in Vietnam.

President Lee Jae Myung said that South Korea always considers Vietnam a key partner in implementing its foreign policies in the region. He emphasized that South Korea continues to view Vietnam as an important strategic partner in economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

He affirmed that South Korea will increase quotas and expand the industries receiving Vietnamese laborers, and agreed to cooperate in technology transfer and the development of supporting industries in Vietnam.

He expressed a desire to continue supporting Korean businesses in expanding investment into Vietnam, especially in important fields such as infrastructure, energy, and new urban development.

Concurrently, the two leaders agreed to transform cooperation in science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and human resource development into new pillars in the bilateral relationship.

President Luong Cuong requested that South Korea continue to pay attention to and implement policies to protect the legitimate rights and interests, ensure the security and safety, and create all favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in South Korea to live, study, and work long-term with peace of mind.

Also within the framework of the talks, the two leaders exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern. Both sides agreed to cooperate closely and support each other in regional and international forums of mutual interest; and to jointly promote the early upgrading of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement and implement the Mekong-Korea Summit in the near future.