Vietnam is interested in the Republic of Korea’s economic development model and experience in developing agriculture and rural areas for the country’s efficient new rural area construction, President Truong Tan Sang has said. He told former RoK President Lee Myung-bak during a reception in Ho Chi Minh City on October 22 for the RoK guest, who is leading a business delegation on a working visit to Vietnam. He welcomed the former President and his accompanying entrepreneurs and affirmed that the two countries’ strategic cooperative partnership, established when Lee Myung-bak was in office, has brought about rapid developments in trade, tourism and investment. The recent completion of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the countries will surely help the bilateral economic ties grow further, he confirmed. The guest said with delight that the Vietnam-RoK relations have grown significantly over the past years. He expressed his hope that in his position, President Truong Tan Sang will do more to enhance the ties. He said he believes that Vietnam will reap more results in its rural construction and development process and that signed FTAs will help improve rural residents’ income. He also shared with the host that during his visit, RoK and Vietnamese enterprises signed a number of memoranda of understanding on cooperation. He hoped that close coordination will successfully implement these agreements and intensify bilateral trade ties.-VNA