Leader delivers key speech at South Korea's Yonsei University
Vietnam's General Secretary Calls for Strengthening Vietnam-RoK Relations
During his keynote speech at Yonsei University in South Korea, Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasized the importance of strengthening connectivity and trust, and advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).
Tô Lâm's speech was a policy-oriented, forward-looking call to strengthen Vietnam-RoK relations through shared development goals, framed against the backdrop of global economic and security challenges and Vietnam's national aspirations.
Yonsei University's Legacy and Role
Tô Lâm praised Yonsei University for its historical legacy and its role in nurturing distinguished alumni across fields such as science, arts, sports, and politics. He expressed confidence that future graduates will continue this legacy with dedication and creativity.
Global and Regional Challenges
The General Secretary outlined Vietnam's perspective on global and regional challenges, including economic risks, fragmentation, disrupted supply chains, and outdated growth models reliant on limited inputs like natural resources and traditional labor. He emphasized that these challenges require adaptation and transformation.
Vietnam's Aspirations
Tô Lâm highlighted Vietnam's resolve to leverage these challenges as opportunities to transform and progress, drawing on its cultural and historical strengths as it moves toward a future defined by development and partnership. He reiterated that young people are the backbone and decisive force for national prosperity, and the pioneering, core force in fostering a stronger relationship between the two countries.
Elevating Cooperation
The General Secretary proposed elevating cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and human resource development as new pillars of bilateral relations. He emphasized increased and expanded investment by Korean enterprises in key sectors and the development of specialised industrial production complexes along the value chain in Vietnam as bringing strategic mutual benefits for both countries.
Breakthroughs in Cooperation
Tô Lâm called for breakthroughs in cultural, tourism, educational, and labour cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He expressed his hope that Vietnamese students studying in the RoK, particularly at Yonsei University, will serve as "goodwill ambassadors" of the Vietnamese people.
Vietnam's Defense Policy and Development Orientation
Vietnam remains steadfast in its "four no's" defense policy, and is striving to usher the nation into a new era - the era of prosperity, strength, and development. The General Secretary outlined Vietnam's development orientation to 2030 with a vision to 2045.
Cooperation Projects
Cooperation projects with the RoK in strategic transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and climate-resilient infrastructure will strengthen Vietnam's infrastructure resilience. The General Secretary affirmed that these projects are crucial in realizing Vietnam's major aspirations.
Significance of Educational and People-to-People Exchanges
On this occasion, Professor Yoon Dong Sup, President of Yonsei University, presented an honorary doctorate degree to General Secretary Tô Lâm, underscoring the significance of educational and people-to-people exchanges in bilateral relations.
Conclusion
In summary, Tô Lâm's address at Yonsei was a policy-oriented, forward-looking call to strengthen Vietnam-RoK relations through trust, connectivity, and shared development goals, framed against the backdrop of global economic and security challenges and Vietnam's national aspirations. The speech took place in the context of efforts to deepen bilateral ties, including high-tech cooperation, digital transformation, and cultural industry collaboration, aiming toward ambitious trade targets and enhanced mutual cooperation.
- Tô Lâm emphasizes the need to strengthen Vietnam-RoK relations, linking it to shared development goals and global economic challenges.
- Tô Lâm's speech at Yonsei University is a forward-thinking policy proposal, focusing on strengthening ties through trust and connectivity.
- Amid global economic and security challenges, Tô Lâm highlights Vietnam's will to transform and progress, basing it on cultural and historical strengths.
- To elevate bilateral relations, Tô Lâm advocates increased cooperation in science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and human resource development.
- Tô Lâm calls for breakthroughs in cultural, tourism, educational, and labor cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK.
- The General Secretary encourages Vietnamese students in the RoK to be "goodwill ambassadors" of the Vietnamese people.
- Vietnam maintains its "four no's" defense policy and aims to enter a new era of prosperity, strength, and development.
- Cooperation projects with the RoK in infrastructure, energy, digital, and climate-resilient sectors are crucial for realizing Vietnam's major aspirations.
- The significance of educational and people-to-people exchanges is emphasized in strengthening Vietnam-RoK relations.
- The General Secretary's address at Yonsei University underscores the importance of high-tech cooperation, digital transformation, and cultural industry collaboration in strengthening bilateral ties.
- The speech's ambition is to achieve ambitious trade targets and enhanced mutual cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).
