Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong arrived in Seoul on October 1 afternoon, starting his four-day visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) at the invitation of President Park Geun-hye.

Party leader Trong and other high-ranking Vietnamese officials were warmly welcomed by Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, the Korean Ambassador to Vietnam, Vietnam Embassy representatives in the RoK, and a large number of Vietnamese expatriates and students.

The Korean Foreign Minister greeting Party chief  Nguyen Phu Trong at the airport.

Trong’s visit is expected to further strengthen the two countries’ important and sincere partnership for mutual benefit.

After arriving in Seoul, the Vietnamese Party leader received a delegation of the Korea-Vietnam Friendship Association (KOVIFA) led by President Choi Young-joo, hailing the association’s efforts to propel friendship and cooperation forward.

He hoped the association would continue contributing to the promotion of people-to-people exchanges.

Trong then met with representatives of the two Ly families in the RoK called the Ly Tinh Thien (Changcheon Lee) family and the Ly Hoa Son (Hwasan Lee) family.

He said the two Ly families living in the RoK for seven-eight centuries was evidence for the long-standing traditional relations between the two countries.

The Party General Secretary briefed the representatives of the two Ly families on Vietnam’s socio-economic development and the Party and State’s policies while stressing that the Party and State always consider the overseas Vietnamese community as an indispensable part of the nation.

He said he wished the two Ly families should unite, provide mutual assistance, and contribute to the RoK’s development as well as the process of nation-building back home, thus contributing to the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.

A crowd of Vietnam Embassy staff and Vietnamese community representatives welcoming the Party leader.

Later in the day, Trong visited Samsung Group and talked to Vietnam Embassy staff and Vietnamese community representatives.