Hanoi: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met Vietnam’s top leader To Lam in Hanoi on Tuesday to deepen cooperation between the two countries, with a strong focus on technology, energy and trade.
The meeting marked an important step in the growing partnership between South Korea and Vietnam, as both sides look to expand ties beyond traditional manufacturing and investment. The two leaders discussed ways to work together in new areas such as nuclear energy, infrastructure development and advanced industries.
During the visit, the two countries signed around 12 agreements covering sectors like electricity, infrastructure and energy. These agreements are expected to support long term cooperation and strengthen economic links between the two nations.
A key focus of the talks was Vietnam’s ambition to move into high value industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. South Korea, which is already Vietnam’s largest foreign investor, is seen as a major partner in helping achieve this goal. Large South Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, already have significant manufacturing operations in Vietnam and are exploring further investments.
Vietnam is also seeking support in training skilled workers to meet the demands of these advanced industries. At the same time, South Korean companies are looking to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on other markets, making Vietnam an attractive destination.
Both countries also reaffirmed their goal of increasing bilateral trade to about 150 billion dollars by 2030. Current trade between the two sides is estimated to be close to 90 billion dollars, showing strong growth in recent years.
The visit is part of a broader effort by South Korea to strengthen its presence in Asia and build reliable economic partnerships. For Vietnam, the meeting reflects its strategy to attract more investment and develop into a major technology and manufacturing hub in the region.
The discussions in Hanoi highlight how the relationship between the two countries is evolving into a deeper partnership focused on future industries and long term economic growth.