Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Chung Un-chan said his country considers Vietnam a key priority partner in terms of official development assistance (ODA).

 

PM Chung made the statement during a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Tien Van who said farewell before ending his term of office in the RoK on Jan. 22.

 

The PM praised Vietnam for its strong performance in recent years and said he believed that Vietnam, under the leadership of the Party and State, with the industry of its people and its great potential, would find success in its national industrialisation and modernisation process.

 

He expressed his pleasure with the development of relations between the two countries, particularly the elevation of the status of their ties to that of a strategic cooperative partnership.

 

The PM said he held Ambassador Van’s efforts during his term of office in high regard, noting that they contributed to promoting friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and helping to make the elevation of ties between the two countries a reality.

 

He assured that his government will pay careful attention to the needs of the 90,000-strong Vietnamese community in the RoK.

 

As host of the G20 Summit in November, the RoK government will invite Vietnam to attend the meeting as the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 

Prime Minister Chung also expressed his desire to visit Vietnam soon.

 

Earlier on Jan. 21, Ambassador Van met Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung Hwan.

 

 

(CPV/VNA)