Vietnam, RoK hold 4th strategic dialogue (Photo:VNA)The fourth strategic dialogue on diplomacy, security and defence at the deputy foreign minister level between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) was held in Seoul, the RoK on September 8.
The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister Ho Xuan Son and the RoK delegation was headed by First Vice Minister Cho Tae-yong.
At the dialogue, the two sides exchanged strategic issues in bilateral relations and regional and international matters of mutual concern. The two sides lauded the comprehensive development of Vietnam-RoK ties and agreed to maintain regular exchange activities.
The two sides concurred on bolstering result-oriented cooperation in security and defence, citizen protection and cultural and people-to-people exchanges; effectively speeding up the implementation of the Vietnam-RoK Free Trade Agreement; and striving to reach bilateral trade turnover of 70 billion USD in 2020.
Both sides also saw the need to enhance their coordination at regional and international forums, particularly at the United Nations (UN), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum , ASEAN Regional Forum ( ARF), ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and East Asia Summit ( EAS).
The two sides acknowledged the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security as well as freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.
They agreed disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international laws and stressed the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and work toward the early finalisation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
As the RoK side briefed their standing on the situation in the Korean peninsula and its relations with North Korea, the Vietnamese side reaffirmed its consistent policy to support peace, stability and denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
On the occasion, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister paid a courtesy visit to the RoK’s Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se as well as visited and worked with leaders of Yongin city, Gyeonggi province and the RoK-Vietnam friendship association in Yongin city.-VNA
