President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on Thursday, RoK President Lee Jae Myung said the visit is the first official reception of a foreign head of state by the RoK's new government which reflects the RoK's great respect for its relationship with Vietnam and demonstrates his personal commitment and that of the RoK's government to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

President Lee expressed his belief that the visit would usher in a new chapter in the RoK–Vietnam relations. He hopes the two countries will continue to share experiences and deepen cooperation, not only within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum but also in various other multilateral platforms.

Discussing the RoK government’s policy priorities in its cooperation with Vietnam, President Lee underscored the importance of expanding and enhancing bilateral economic collaboration, adding both sides are aiming to raise bilateral trade to 150 billion USD by 2030.

In addition, President Lee expressed a strong desire to broaden cooperation into strategic areas such as nuclear power, high-speed rail, infrastructure development, and advanced science and technology industries. He also highlighted the need to strengthen partnerships in tourism, cultural industries, and promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two nations.