Hanoi (VNA) – State President To Lam hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 25 for the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Prime Minister Han Duck Soo who is leading a high-level delegation of the Korean Government to Vietnam to pay respect to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

On behalf of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam, Lam sincerely thanked President Yoon Suk Yeol for sending a letter of condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State, people, and the family of General Secretary Trong.

PM Han and the high-level delegation’s paying respect to the General Secretary in Hanoi demonstrates the special importance the RoK Government places on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he said, adding that Trong always treasured and had valuable contributions to bringing the bilateral cooperation to new heights, especially the upgrade of the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership level in 2022.

The President affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always value and wish to join the Korean Government and people in continuing to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with the RoK in a more intensive, substantive and effective direction in all aspects.

He proposed the two sides maintain regular high-level and all-level visits and interactions through flexible forms, therefore helping to continuously consolidate political trust, and create a foundation to boost collaboration in other fields, particularly defence and security; and contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world, and promoting cooperation in economics, trade and investment.

Lam showed his hope that Korean businesses will expand their investment scale in Vietnam; and the two countries will extend collaboration in education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, as well as local cooperation; and support and create favourable conditions for each other's citizens.

Conveying President Yoon Suk Yeol’s profound condolences to the Vietnamese State and people, and the family of General Secretary Trong, Han affirmed that the General Secretary's achievements in and contributions to Vietnam’s development and its friendship and cooperation with the RoK will always be remembered by the people of both countries.

Speaking highly of Vietnam's role and position in the region and the world, the PM affirmed that his country considers Vietnam an important partner in its foreign policy and a key partner in implementing regional policies such as the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.

▨ He also conveyed President Yoon's invitation to President Lam🔯 to visit the RoK at an appripriate time in the near future./.