1. First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Kyou-hyun and Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son held the Second Strategic Dialogue between the Republic of Korea and Vietnam in Seoul on August 6. In the meeting, officials from government agencies of the two countries that handle foreign and security affairs, including their Foreign and Defense Ministries, exchanged extensive and in-depth views on the ROK-Vietnam relations, the current situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast and Southeast Asia, and ways to work together on regional and global stages.

2. Vice Minister Kim noted that the timing of the Strategic Dialogue with Vietnam, one of the ROK’s partners toward shared prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century, was significant in that it took place in the year when the new government was launched in the ROK. He proposed that the two countries, by building upon the remarkable advances in their ties over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, set a “future vision” for the next 20 years that will further deepen and advance their bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership.

3. The two sides noted with appreciation that their two countries have seen their cooperative ties strengthen over the past 21 years in a wide range of fields, including trade, energy, resources, development, environment and consular affairs. They agreed to expand the scope of their robust bilateral cooperation to encompass regional and global issues and thereby become genuine partners for prosperity.

4. Vice Minister Kim extended his appreciation to Vietnam for its close cooperation with the ROK on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. He elaborated on the ROK government’s efforts to actively support North Korea’s development in cooperation with the international community through the trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula. He asked Vietnam to play a role in prompting North Korea to become a responsible member of the international community.

° Deputy Minister Son agreed to cooperate in the inter-Korean trust-building process.

5. Vice Minister Kim highlighted the significance the new ROK government attaches to its cooperative ties with the ASEAN member states, adding that it supports the ASEAN centrality and the envisioned launch of the ASEAN community. He asked Vietnam to render support so as to make a success of the ASEAN-ROK special summit in 2014.

° In response, Deputy Minister Son emphasized the important role of ASEAN in maintaining peace in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed his support for the ASEAN-ROK special summit.

6. Before the Strategic Dialogue, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se had met with Deputy Minister Son. On the occasion, the Foreign Minister voiced his hope for further advances in the ROK’s relations with Vietnam and ASEAN in a wide range of fields, including economy, politics and security, as well as for an increase in both inter-governmental and private exchanges between the two sides.

                 Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation