(ATTN: ADDS photo, Lee’s meeting with Vietnam’s National Assembly chairman in last two paras)
By Kim Eun-jung
HANOI, April 23 (Yonhap) — President Lee Jae Myung met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in Hanoi on Thursday and pledged to deepen cooperation in nuclear energy, infrastructure and broader energy sectors.
Lee said South Korea aims to serve as a “reliable partner” in supporting Vietnam’s development goal of becoming a modern industrialized country by 2030 and a high-income, developed nation by 2045 by upgrading its industrial structure and infrastructure.
“The Korean government will strengthen strategic cooperation with Vietnam in nuclear energy, transportation infrastructure and energy to jointly create the ‘miracle of the Hong River,'” Lee said, referring to the main river flowing through Hanoi.
President Lee Jae Myung (L) poses for a photo with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung ahead of their meeting in Hanoi on April 23, 2026. (Yonhap)
Lee highlighted South Korea’s experience of rapid economic growth, driven by intensive investment in nuclear power, transportation networks and transparent financial systems, and expressed hope that bilateral cooperation in those areas would help lay the foundation for Vietnam’s continued economic growth.
Hung said Lee’s state visit would provide fresh momentum for advancing their countries’ bilateral ties and expressed hope for closer cooperation with Seoul to support Vietnam’s long-term economic development goals.
The meeting with Hung followed Lee’s bilateral summit with Vietnam’s top leader To Lam, who serves as state president and general secretary of the Communist Party, the previous day, where the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in various sectors, including supply chains, infrastructure and energy.
President Lee Jae Myung (L) shakes hands with Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man during their meeting at the National Assembly House in Hanoi on April 23, 2026. (Yonhap)
Separately, the South Korean president met with Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and asked for the legislature’s support for strengthening Seoul-Hanoi ties and enhancing business environment Korean companies in the Southeast Asian nation.
“I expect today’s meeting would further facilitate exchanges of the two nations’ legislatures to help support the bilateral cooperation,” Lee told Man.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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