PM Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi this morning for an official visit to the Republic of Korea, where he will participate in the ASEAN-RoK Summit. He was accompanied by his wife and numerous officials and businessmen.

Jeju Island hosts the Summit to mark the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-RoK relationship.

Closer dialogues and cooperation between ASEAN and RoK

ASEAN and the RoK started their relations in 1989 and inked a joint statement on comprehensive cooperation in 2004. The RoK has become an important economic partner of ASEAN, with the two-way trade turnover of US $90.2 billion last year.

Under the theme “Partnership for Real, Friendship for Good”, the ASEAN-RoK commemorative summit will review the dialogue relationship and outline orientations for its further development.

The leaders will also discuss international and regional issues of common concern, focusing on the financial-economic crisis, cooking security, energy security, environment and climate change, and pandemic prevention.

Vietnam - RoK: cooperation for development

Viet Nam and the RoK established their diplomatic ties in 1992. The two countries are consolidating their comprehensive the partnership for comprehensive cooperation in the interests of the two nations and for peace, stability and development in the region.

The two sides founded the Inter-governmental Committee for Economic Cooperation to boost bilateral economic ties. Viet Nam and the RoK have signed many important agreements in various fields, including politics, security, economics, technique, culture, education, and transportation.

RoK is now a leading economic partner of Viet Nam. In early August 2008, the RoK and Viet Nam penned a frame agreement on granting US$1 billion as preferential loans for Viet Nam in the period of 2008-2011. With this commitment, the RoK became the 2^nd biggest donor of Viet Nam.

It is also the 3^rd market for Vietnamese guest workers (about 54,000 Vietnamese laborers are working in the RoK).

VietNamNet/CP