(VOVworld) - Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s ongoing visit to the Republic of Korea will strengthen bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and RoK President Park Geun-hye agreed upon major measures to lift the comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level

At their talks following the official welcome ceremony hosted by Korean President Park Geun-hye for Party leader Trong in Seoul on Thursday, the two leaders agreed upon major measures to lift the comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level. President Park Geun Hye welcomed the visit, saying that both have become important partners in all fields. Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his pleasure to revisit the Korea: “I sincerely thank Madam President, the government and people of the Republic of Korea for you warm reception. I congratulate the President and the government of the Korea for their progress in reform and social economic development and wished for further development.”

The two leaders held a press conference following their talks

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Park Geun-hye reached a consensus to consolidate the current Inter-Governmental Committee mechanism in line with the strategic partnership. The two sides stressed the importance of boosting economic and trade relations, with a view to reaching 70 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2020, and agreed to complete negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year.   The Korea pledged to further facilitate Vietnamese imports into the country, particularly agricultural and aquatic products, while encouraging its businesses to invest in Vietnam. President Park Geun-hye expressed her wish that the Vietnamese side continue to provide favourable conditions for Korean investors in Vietnam, especially in the fields of energy, infrastructure, transport, finance and banking.

The Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment and the Director of  the RoK’s Eximbank signed an MoU.

The two leaders agreed to instruct relevant agencies to accelerate negotiations for the early signing of a memorandum of understanding on labour recruitment this year. President Park expressed her support for Vietnam to host the APEC Summit 2017 and applauded the Southeast Asian country’s contribution to the special Republic of Korea - ASEAN Summit scheduled for later this year.

Following their talks, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Park Geun-hye witnessed the signing of four bilateral cooperation documents on addressing post-war bomb and mine consequences in Vietnam, ensuring national quality of defence products and services, lending for the building of Vam Cong bridge roads, and financial cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment and RoK’s Eximbank.