1. During her visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 11, and exchanged views on ways to advance the Republic of Korea-Vietnam relations, and cooperation in implementing the New Southern Policy.

2. Minister Kang and Prime Minister Phuc shared the view that President Moon Jae-in’s successful visit to Vietnam in March served as an opportunity to further enhance the “strategic cooperative partnership” between the two countries. The two sides also took note that the agreements reached between the two countries during President Moon’s visit were being implemented smoothly, and agreed to pursue close cooperation between the governments of the two countries to continue to faithfully implement the agreements.

3. Furthermore, Minister Kang spoke highly of the active cooperation rendered by the Vietnamese government, as a key partner in pursuing the New Southern Policy, in the ROK government’s efforts to implement the Policy. Minister Kang also offered to continue to work together to further advance the ROK-ASEAN relations through the New Southern Policy.

o Minister Kang especially expressed hope that the WEF on ASEAN, held to seek ways to create future growth engines in the region, would help further step up cooperation between the ROK and Vietnam in implementing the New Southern Policy.

* unofficial translation