Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung will host Vietnam's top leader To Lam for summit talks early next week, the presidential office announced Thursday, as the two nations aim to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, and high-speed rail.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lam's four-day visit starting Sunday marks the first by a foreign leader since President Lee assumed office on June 4. The summit talks between Lee and Lam are scheduled for Monday, and they will be followed by a state banquet hosted by President Lee, as stated by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung during a press briefing.
The summit will focus on comprehensive discussions covering political, security, trade, and investment issues, as well as future strategic areas like nuclear power, high-speed rail, smart cities, and science and technology, Kang elaborated. She highlighted Vietnam's role as a key comprehensive strategic partner and a core partner for cooperation among ASEAN nations.
The visit by General Secretary To Lam is anticipated to reaffirm the bilateral commitment to developing relations in a future-oriented and mutually beneficial manner. It is also seen as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN. Following the summit, a state dinner will be attended by leaders from major economic organizations and businesses, as well as representatives from various sectors, including the arts.
Expected attendees at the state dinner include Chey Tae-won, chief of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and heads of the Federation of Korean Industries, Korea International Trade Association, and Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business. Leaders from major South Korean firms such as Samsung Electronics, LG, and Hyundai Motor, which have operations or factories in Vietnam, are also anticipated to attend, although the final guest list has not been confirmed yet.
ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a 10-member regional bloc that includes Vietnam.