1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong spoke with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Bui Thanh Son on the phone on April 28, and exchanged views on ways to strengthen bilateral relations as well as Korea’s cooperation with ASEAN and the Mekong region. They also discussed regional issues.

2. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to work together to elevate the Korea-Viet Nam strategic cooperative partnership to new heights on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries next year and to actively promote high-level exchanges to this end.

˚ The Foreign Ministers noted the steady growth of substantive cooperation such as in trade and investment between Korea and Viet Nam amid the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to continue to work together with a view to facilitating the essential movement of people including business travels between the two countries.

˚ Foreign Minister Chung appreciated Viet Nam’s recent designation of the Korean language as one of the 1st foreign languages in the school curriculum as a sign of close bilateral relations and expressed his hope that it would serve as a solid foundation for deeper mutual understanding and friendship between the future generations of the two countries.

3. Foreign Minister Chung commended Viet Nam’s successful conclusion of its ASEAN Chairmanship last year amid the COVID-19 crisis and looked forward to working with Viet Nam as Korea’s ASEAN coordinator over next three years in enhancing Korea’s cooperation with ASEAN and the Mekong region.

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˚ In particular, the Foreign Ministers agreed to deepen the Korea-Mekong strategic partnership through a variety of virtual and in-person events to take place to celebrate the 2021 Mekong-Korea Exchange Year.

4. On the latest developments in Myanmar, Foreign Minister Chung welcomed the five-point consensus reached in the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on April 24, in particular, the commitment to an immediate cessation of violence and the commencement of constructive dialogue among all parties concerned. Foreign Minister Chung also highlighted the importance of implementing the consensus in a faithful and consistent manner. He reaffirmed the Korean government’s support for ASEAN’s constructive role in resolving the current situation.

5. In response to Foreign Minister Chung’s expression of concern over the Japanese government’s decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the ocean, Foreign Minister Son emphasized the importance of transparency, responsibility and safety for the marine environment.