Foreign ministers of Vietnam and South Korea held a phone talk on February 28, the same day after Hanoi decided to suspend its unilateral visa-waiver program for South Korea’s nationals from February 29 following a sudden increase of Covid-19 infections in that country.

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Photo: MOFA

During the phone talk with South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh expected South Korea to closely cooperate with Vietnam in combating the epidemic.

Mr. Minh hoped that the two countries would enhance cooperation in supporting citizens and businesses in each country to strengthen trade and economic ties which have been robust in recent years.

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha informed her Vietnamese counterpart of Seoul’s efforts to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

She noted that the Republic of Korea will offer free treatment to Vietnamese people in the East Asian country.

On the same day, Spokeswoman of the Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said in a statement that the suspension of visa granting to South Korea citizens is a temporary measure to prevent the epidemic spread for the sake of the two countries’ peoples.

Vietnam made the decision five days after Moon Jae-in’s administration raised South Korea’s alert to the highest level on February 23.

As of February 29, South Korea confirmed 2,931 people tested positive with Covid-19, including 16 deaths.

Vietnam, meanwhile, has reported no new infections over the past 16 days and all of 16 infected people have recovered.