(VOVworld)- Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Tuesday began an official visit to the Republic of Korea. Earlier, Mr. Dung met with foreign leaders attending the second Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Seoul

Meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and President of the EU Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, Dung asked the EU to support the launch of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement and recognize Vietnam as a market economy.

Meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Dung said he hopes Finland will continue to assist Vietnam in the areas of poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and forestry.

During talks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, both leaders agreed to work closely on celebrations for 40 years of diplomatic relations next year. Prime Minister Dung spoke in favor of maintaining existing mechanisms to enhance mutual trust and expand cooperation in economics and trade, food security, public-private partnerships, mining, and energy.

In a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt, PM Dung said that Danish ODA to Vietnam over the past year has been effectively used to develop Vietnam’s infrastructure, education, environment, climate change adaptation, and gender equality. He said the exchange of high-ranking delegations boosts bilateral cooperation, especially in economics and trade, investment, culture, education, and science.

Previously, Dung met with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Pakistani Prime Minster Yousaf Raza Gillani, and UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.