(Unofficial Translation)

I welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs Son to Korea and Cheong Wa Dae. I wish success for the Second Southeast Asia Regional Program Ministerial Conference of the OECD set to begin this afternoon. I am grateful to Viet Nam, the next Co-Chair of the SEARP Steering Group, for sending a senior-level delegation to the Conference.

Korea attaches significant importance to Viet Nam and considers your country a special partner. In addition, the Korean Government has greatly strengthened cooperation with ASEAN on the foundation of our New Southern Policy. The theme of this year’s Ministerial Conference – People-centered future: Partnership for a smarter, greener and more inclusive ASEAN – is the spirit that ASEAN and Korea have jointly promoted so far. I believe our two countries also share this spirit.

Now, our bilateral relations are the best they have ever been except for the fact that people-to-people exchanges have unavoidably contracted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am delighted that our bilateral trade exceeded US$80 billion last year despite the pandemic. I expect that we will surely accomplish our goal of reaching US$100 billion in trade by 2023. Most of all, I hope this year that marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Viet Nam will serve as an opportunity for our bilateral relations to be elevated to a new height.

Thank you.