S. Korean president calls for enhanced ties with Vietnam

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for efforts Thursday to further improve the relationship between his country and Vietnam while promising additional support for the Southeast Asian nation. The pledge came in a meeting with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, according to Moon's top press secretary Yoon Young-chan. "President Moon expressed the hope to continue developing the countries' mutually beneficial and future-oriented cooperative relations over the next 25 years based on the bright achievements they have together achieved over the previous 25 years," the Cheong Wa Dae official said in a press release. Minh's trip to Seoul partly marked the 25th anniversary of the countries establishing their diplomatic ties. He has been on a three-day visit since Tuesday. The Vietnamese deputy prime minister said his country also wished to improve its bilateral relationship with South Korea in all areas, according to Yoon. Moon also called for increased exchanges between the people of the two countries, while promising support for Vietnamese residents in South Korea. Minh, who is double-hatted as Vietnam's foreign minister, expressed gratitude for what he called the South Korean leader's consideration for Vietnamese people here and said his country will also work to enhance the friendship between the two countries and their people, Yoon said. Also on Thursday, the Vietnamese official also met with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to discuss increased cooperation in economy and curbing North Korea's nuclear weapons development. During the meeting Kang lauded Vietnam's "faithful" implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development as well as the country's previous statements denouncing North Korea's sixth nuclear test and ballistic missile launches, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Kang voiced hopes for continued efforts with Vietnam on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and the Vietnamese minister agreed, the ministry said. Minh also expressed Vietnam's determination to make efforts to host South Korean corporate investment in the compartment, energy and agricultural sectors. bdk@yna.co.kr pbr@yna.co.kr (END)