Party chief attends inauguration of Vietnam’s Consulate General in Busan
In the context of the robust development of bilateral ties, the establishment of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan is vivid evidence of the deepening linkages between the two nations, serving as a solid bridge to expand locality-to-locality cooperation in various fields such as economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
Party General Secretary To Lam (4th from right) at the inauguration ceremony of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – As part of his state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on August 13 attended the inauguration ceremony of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan and a celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the friendly and cooperative relations between the Korean city and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.
Addressing the inauguration event, Vietnamese Consul General in Busan Doan Phuong Lan said the city is home to a large Vietnamese community that is increasingly integrating into local society. The opening of the consulate general reflects the Vietnamese Party and State’s deep concern for citizens living, studying, and working in the RoK’s southern region.
Lan affirmed that the diplomatic agency will serve as a common home for the Vietnamese expatriates, acting as an effective bridge to help elevate the Vietnam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a new height, for the benefit and prosperity of both nations. Busan Mayor Park Heong Joon stressed that in the context of the robust development of bilateral ties, the establishment is vivid evidence of the deepening linkages between the two nations, serving as a solid bridge to expand locality-to-locality cooperation in various fields such as economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
On this oc꧟casion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son presented the “For the Cause of Vietnam's Diplomacy” insignia to Park Soo Kwan, former Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in the Busan area.
Party General Secretary To Lam speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
At the subsequent anniversary celebration co-organised by the HCM City People’s Committee and Busan authorities, Party General Secretary Lam affirmed the indispensable role of locality-to-locality cooperation in fostering substantive ties between the two countries. He noted that the opening of the consulate general underscores Vietnam’s high regard for Busan’s role in relations with Vietnam in general as well as with HCM City and other Vietnamese localities.
He said that both HCM City and Busan are major economic and innovation hubs of their respective countries, offering ample conditions for continued collaboration. The Party chief expressed hope that Busan will expand its cooperation with other Vietnamese localities, especially coastal provinces, and that the city’s government and people will work closely with their Vietnamese partners to effectively realise the cooperation orientations agreed upon by the two countries’ leaders.
A dancing performance at the event (Photo: VNA)
In his remarks, Chairman of the Busan Metropolitan Council Ahn Sung Min affirmed readiness to continue supporting HCM City for mutual development.
Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen said many opportunities are opening up for cooperation between the two cities in potential 𒁏and advantageous areas, such as digital transformation, inn💛ovation, education and training, tourism, high-tech industry, logistics, marine economy, and people-to-people exchanges. The sides are to translate the agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders into practical and effective actions./.
Busan will continue to work closely with Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese localities to promote substantive collaboration in areas where the two sides boast complementary strengths, contributing to concretising the agreements reached by high-ranking leaders of both sides, said Busan Mayor Park Hyeong Joon.
Party General Secretary To Lam acknowledged the rapid progress of the Vietnam–RoK partnership in recent years, especially in economics, thanks to the support of both countries, their citizens, and business leaders like former Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in the RoK Park Soo Kwan.
In his speech, party General Secretary To Lam cited the RoK’s “Miracle on the Han River” as proof of the transformative power of technology-driven growth, urging both nations to make it a strategic pillar of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Vietnam's accomplishments have been closely linked to the support of international partners, particularly the deep and enduring bonds with the Party, State, and people of Laos. The Vietnam–Laos relationship is an invaluable asset, nurtured and sustained across generations.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man highlighted that the committee had reviewed and given opinions on 17 items through direct discussion, alongside several items considered in writing, preparing key matters for the NA's 10th session.
ACW Chair and Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with New Zealand, noting that Vietnam, as coordinator for ASEAN–New Zealand ties from 2024 to 2027, will work closely with New Zealand and ASEAN countries to further deepen the partnership.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has reiterated Vietnam’s readiness to share its experience in reforming and restructuring State-owned enterprises (SOEs) with Laos, including legal frameworks, management processes, and approaches to capital mobilisation and investment management.
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc reiterated Vietnam’s readiness to share its experience fully and support Laos in SOE reform, while also expressing a desire to learn from Laos’ valuable insights.
The outcomes of the state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse from August 10-13 are reflected in five major aspects, ranging from political trust and multifaceted cooperation to social foundations and multilateral engagement.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the programme must focus on steadily improving the material and spiritual well-being of ethnic minority and mountain communities, with each year’s progress surpassing the previous.
Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, accompanied by a high-level Vietnamese delegation, left Busan for Hanoi on August 13, concluding their four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) at the invitation of Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse.
At the local level, successive leaders of HCM City have paid due attention to fostering Vietnam–India friendship. Under their guidance and support, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries in the city have flourished across trade, tourism, culture, and education. Such activities have deepened ties and mutual understanding while bringing tangible benefits to the people of both nations.
The diplomatic sector has always upheld its role as one of the three key pillars in the cause of national construction and defence, taking the lead in implementing the motto of “using the invariables to cope with the variables" in asserting and safeguarding the sacred sovereignty of the nation.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, on behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, extended congratulations to the government and people of Singapore, highlighting Singapore as a source of aspiration for many nations, including Vietnam, and a model of innovation, and smart government building.
President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien highlighted the fruitful ties between the VFF Central Committee and the LFNC Central Committee for the effective implementation of the bilateral cooperaetion agreement and the tripartite memorandum of understanding among the fronts of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
The Government leader called for a people-centred and comprehensive approach involving the full political system, with more decentralisation and delegation of power, as long as stronger implementation capacity, enhanced inspections, perfected institutional frameworks, and targeted resource allocation.
Hugh Jeffrey, Deputy Secretary of Strategy, Policy, and Industry at the Australian Department of Defence, highly valued Vietnam's increasingly active role in peacekeeping missions and expressed confidence in the growing, practical, and deeper cooperation between the two countries.
The visit marks the Vietnamese Party General Secretary’s first state visit to the RoK in his new role. The RoK’s invitation to him as the first “state guest” under its new administration signals the high priority it places on the relationship with Vietnam and its Party chief personally.
Party General Secretary To Lam suggested both sides effectively implement existing parliamentary cooperation agreements and strengthen exchanges between the two legislatures. He laid stress on the bridge-building role of friendship parliamentarian groups in each country.
Under the draft revised rules, the NA and People’s Councils will no longer directly establish thematic supervision missions. Instead, the NA will select annual supervision themes and assign their implementation to the NA Standing Committee or specialised committees, which will then report findings for parliamentary discussion and resolution.
