Party General Secretary To Lam and his wife visited Busan, South Korea, on 13/8 to attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese consulate and the 30th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh City-Busan cooperative relationship, according to the Vietnam News Agency (TTXVN).

Party General Secretary To Lam and delegates perform the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Busan, South Korea, on 13/8. Photo: TTXVN

Party General Secretary To Lam and delegates perform the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Busan, South Korea, on 13/8. Photo: TTXVN

Vietnamese Consul General in Busan, Doan Phuong Lan, stated that the consulate is not just a new diplomatic mission but also a gateway and the starting point for new journeys.

Busan has a large Vietnamese community of students and residents who are increasingly integrating into local life and contributing to the city's development. The establishment of the Vietnamese consulate in Busan demonstrates the Vietnamese Party and State's deep concern for the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in southern South Korea.

Lan affirmed that the consulate will serve as a communal home for Vietnamese citizens, offering support, connection, and a sense of community. It will also be a reliable bridge for businesses from both countries to find partners, share opportunities, and grow together. Furthermore, it will help preserve and promote Vietnamese culture and language, strengthening the understanding and bond between the two nations.

She pledged to work diligently to ensure the consulate effectively strengthens the Vietnam-South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, benefiting both nations.

Busan Mayor Park Hyeong Jun said the establishment of the Vietnamese consulate is a testament to the deepening ties between the two countries and a solid bridge to expand local relations in various areas, such as economics, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Park expressed confidence that the consulate will create new momentum and broaden the scope of friendly cooperation between Busan and Ho Chi Minh City.

At the 30th anniversary celebration of the Ho Chi Minh City-Busan partnership, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that this milestone is a result of over three decades of cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea. It demonstrates the depth of the bilateral relationship and affirms the indispensable role of local cooperation.

The General Secretary emphasized that both Ho Chi Minh City and Busan are major economic and innovation hubs in their respective countries, presenting ample opportunities for continued collaborative growth.

He expressed his hope that Busan would expand its cooperation with other Vietnamese localities, particularly coastal provinces. The support and collaboration from Busan's government and people with Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese regions will effectively realize the cooperative development directions recently agreed upon by the two countries' leaders.

General Secretary To Lam and his wife were on a state visit to South Korea from 10-13/8. He was the first foreign guest of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's administration, which took office in early June.

The leaders of Vietnam and South Korea issued a joint statement outlining six key areas for enhanced cooperation to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This includes strengthening economic, trade, investment, scientific, technological cooperation to a new level, aligning with bilateral needs and interests.

Ngoc Anh