S. Korean leader vows increased support for joint development of Vietnam

HANOI, March 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said his country and Vietnam will continue to move forward together on Thursday, calling their joint development and co-prosperity the foundation of a friendship that was forged 25 years ago.

"As we always have over the past 25 years, South Korea and Vietnam will hold hands tightly and move toward a better future," Moon said in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (V-KIST).

V-KIST is a US$70 million research facility jointly funded and built by Vietnam and South Korea's Korea Institute of Science and Technology. Construction is set to be completed in 2020.

"The V-KIST is where the dreams and determination of our two governments and their people emerge. Dreams have the power to make imaginations come true and determination leads us to better future," the South Korean leader told the ceremony.

Moon noted the construction of the institute will mark Vietnam's step toward realizing its goal of building a "modernized industrial nation," and that his country's participation in the construction will mark its support for Vietnam in the process.

"South Korea's experience in industrializing its own nation in just half a century is being used to make Vietnam's dream a reality. South Korea's dream too has become bigger," he said.

"Vietnam and South Korea have already become irreplaceable friends to each other. The Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology that is being constructed in the countries' joint project shows how strong our trust and cooperation are. What is left now is the countries' future, which will only be more prosperous," President Moon added.

Vietnam is South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner and South Korea is Vietnam's second-largest. Their bilateral trade came to $63.9 billion in 2017. Moon earlier said the two countries will work to boost the amount to over $100 billion by 2020.

Moon arrived here earlier Thursday on a three-day state visit that will include his summit with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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