Sang’s visit promises fruitful ties

Ha Chan-ho

What outcomes do you expect from the Vietnamese president’s visit?

The forthcoming visit of President Truong Tan Sang in Korea is very meaningful in that it is a state visit in the last ten years. The Korean government and people are pleased and, in a sense, excited to welcome him and look forward to substantial outcomes from the upcoming summit.

During the three-day visit, the two governments will discuss a wide range of issues as strategic cooperative partners. Among others, the two leaders will explore ways to further facilitate business-to-business cooperation and people-to-people friendship. They will also exchange views on further cooperation for the sustainable development of the two countries.

What do you think are the focal points of the bilateral relationship between the two countries in the coming years?

Korea and Vietnam have provided a model bilateral relationship to the region and beyond. It may be very hard to find another compatible example that matches the successful bilateral achievement between Korea and Vietnam in a short period of less than 20 years. This has been possible based on the similarities of the two people, historical and cultural. Active economic collaboration between the two countries has further strengthened our partnership. Korea is the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, for instance.  

From now on, we will expedite our cooperation beyond the economic area. Since the two presidents announced “strategic cooperative partnership” in 2009, the two governments began to work together in diplomatic and security matters. Certainly more dynamic economic interactions will continue with a higher ambition; a balanced increase in trade, more investments in high-technology areas, and other cooperation in green-growth industries.

You and Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment agreed that the bilateral cooperation should be renewed in order to make it more effective. How will it be renewed?

For Korea, Vietnam is one of the most significant partner countries in development cooperation. That is why Korean government proposed the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) with Vietnam for 2011-2015 in line with Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Development Strategy (SEDS), Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP), and ODA Strategic Framework.

In this context, we agreed that the bilateral cooperation mechanism should be renewed by enhancing the coordination role of the MPI and the embassy. The renewed mechanism will ensure more systemic and consistent implementations of the CPS in line with Vietnam’s ODA Strategic Framework. We also aimed at overcoming fragmentation, enhancing aid effectiveness, upholding predictability and reducing administrative costs.  

Why does Korea put sustainable development, environment and green growth the first place among four focuses in the CPS with Vietnam for 2011-2015?

Priority areas of the CPS were chosen by two standards: what Korea can do best in development cooperation with Vietnam and what Vietnam needs most? The Korean government regards environment and green growth as a key area that can make a drastic change in the future life of all human beings and each country’s economic potential. The Korean government has paid lots of attention and energy to this area and has many things to share with Vietnamese counterpart.
The CPS is designed to help Vietnam to prepare for and to adapt to the impacts of climate change through environmental preservation and green growth; technical assistance, policy advisory and capacity building programs will be provided to boost Vietnam’s capability in dealing with these issues.