1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Taeho, who is on a visit to Viet Nam from December 3 to 5, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Pham Binh Minh and had a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Le Hoai Trung on December 4.

2. During Vice Minister Lee’s courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Minh held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. at the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides agreed to implement the Korea-Viet Nam special entry procedure.

o Vice Minister Lee expressed hope that the agreement which had been reached following months of consultations would help alleviate the inconveniences faced by Korean business people traveling to Viet Nam and accelerate bilateral cooperation for economic recovery. Vice Minister Lee also suggested that in the process of implementation, the two countries continue to hold consultations to enhance its convenience and effectiveness, while continuing close consultations to resume regular round-trip flights as early as possible.

o Deputy Prime Minister Minh also welcomed the agreement on implementing the special entry procedure and suggested that the two countries continue to work together to effectively achieve stable disease prevention and control and economic recovery at the same time.

3. The two sides also agreed on the need to further strengthen the Korea-Viet Nam strategic cooperative partnership by continuing close communication between the two countries including more frequent high-level visits on important occasions such as the launch of the new leadership in Viet Nam in 2021 and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Viet Nam in 2022.

o Vice Minister Lee noted with appreciation that Viet Nam, as the chair of ASEAN, had successfully concluded ASEAN-related summits last month amid COVID-19, and expected that Korea-ASEAN and Korea-Mekong cooperation as well as bilateral relations will be further reinforced based on the “New Southern Policy Plus” announced by President Moon Jae-in at the recent summit and the Korea-Mekong strategic partnership established at the proposal of President Moon.

4. Following the courtesy call, Vice Minister Lee had a separate meeting from 2:20 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. with Deputy Minister Trung on the margins of the 8th Korea-Mekong Business Forum held on the afternoon of the same day.

o Vice Minister Lee noted that even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have been continuing cooperation for economic recovery, including robust high-level exchanges and cooperation in disease prevention and control and the movement of essential personnel, as well as close collaboration in regional cooperative mechanisms including Korea-ASEAN and Korea-Mekong mechanisms, thereby highlighting the importance and special nature of bilateral cooperation and enhancing trust and friendship.

o Deputy Minister Trung agreed with Vice Minister Lee’s remarks and particularly expressed deep appreciation to Korea for providing various types of support to assist Viet Nam in responding to COVID-19 and recovering from the recent floods in the country’s central region.

5. The two sides exchanged views on a range of bilateral issues, including the special entry procedure that had been agreed to earlier, as well as issues regarding regional cooperation.

o Deputy Minister Trung said that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will actively take necessary measures to ensure the smooth implementation of the special entry procedure between the two countries. He also expressed regret to see delay in the resumption of regular flights between the two countries due to issues regarding disease prevention and control, and added that Viet Nam will continue efforts to resume regular flights between the two countries.

o Vice Minister Lee requested Viet Nam’s cooperation in resolving the difficulties faced by Korean companies exporting to or investing in Viet Nam, and Deputy Minister Trung stated that he will closely look into the request from Korea, together with relevant government agencies and organizations.

o The two sides agreed that Korea and Viet Nam, in closer consultation with each other, will continue to make necessary efforts to further advance mutually-beneficial relations in various areas, including trade and investment, development cooperation, and labor cooperation.

6. Vice Minister Lee’s visit to Viet Nam came as the Korean government is actively pursuing its New Southern Policy which enters its fourth year. The visit served as a good opportunity to continue the momentum of the Korea-ASEAN and Korea-Mekong summits held in November and further strengthen bilateral cooperation on the New Southern Policy Plus.