Hanoi (VNA) 🐼– Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Dinh La Thang is visiting the Republic of Korea (RoK) to seek a boost to cooperation in various fields.

During his stay in the RoK from September 7-14, Thang met with Speaker of the RoK’s National Assembly Chung Sye-kyun who said he supports HCM City to enhance cooperation with Korean localities. The top legislator pledged to encourage Korean businesses to invest in Vietnam and HCM City in particular. He suggested the two sides push collaboration in tourism and cultural exchanges as an increasing number of Korean tourists want to visit Vietnam. Thang highlighted the RoK as the second biggest official development assistance (ODA) provider for Vietnam, adding that the two countries are actively preparing for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2017. He proposed Vietnam and the RoK promote high-level delegation exchanges and cooperation in legislative and parliamentary personnel training and governmental inspection at central and local levels. He said he hopes the RoK will continue to prioritise the provision of ODA for Vietnam in the fields of mutual interests such as infrastructure and human resources development, and climate change adaptation. The two countries should accelerate the implementation of memoranda of understanding on labour cooperation, he said, suggesting the RoK increase reception of Vietnamese workers for training and return high-quality human resources for Korean companies in Vietnam. At a reception for the Vietnamese official on September 8, the RoK’s Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn said he will encourage Korean businesses and localities to promote investment activities in Vietnam and HCM City particularly. The PM also promised to direct relevant agencies to conduct all necessary procedures for Vietnamese and Korean airlines to open new routes and increase the frequency of flights to promote trade. He was committed to creating the best conditions for Vietnamese employees to work in the host society. At a meeting with First Deputy Mayor of Seoul Ryu Gyeong-Gi , Thang was told that Seoul and HCM City will soon sign an agreement to establish friendship and cooperation in 2017. Thang said HCM City is calling on foreign businesses, including those from the RoK, to invest in key infrastructure, flooding reduction, environmental protection, and urban development. He noted that RoK is one of the leading trade, investment, and tourism partners of HCM City with nearly 100,000 Korean people and close to 2,000 Korean businesses present in the city. Besides effective cooperation with the RoK’s Seoul, Busan and Daegu cities, HCM City is actively working with Gyeongsangbuk province to host the world cultural festival 2017 in the city, a significant event to increase cultural exchange between the two countries. Thang later met with the RoK’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoon-sun and leaders from Korean Foundation.-VNA