HANOI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet said that Vietnam expects to strengthen and expand all-round cooperation with the Republic of Korea (ROK), the local newspaper People's Army reported Tuesday.

    The statement was made when receiving the RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Yu Myung Hwan here on Monday.

    President Triet said that the upcoming Vietnam visit by RoK President Lee Myung-bak would be an important event helping to enhance Vietnam-RoK relations in future.

    RoK Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan said that the two countries have witnessed significant development in bilateral cooperation over the past years. RoK now ranks among the biggest foreign investors in Vietnam with investment of over 16 billion U.S. dollars poured into the country.

    RoK expects to expand its cooperation with Vietnam, both bilaterally and multilaterally, at regional and international forums. The two countries are expected to discuss concrete measures to enhance the relations during the upcoming Vietnam visit by RoK President Lee Myung-bak, said Yu Myung Hwan at the talk.

    Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, during his reception to the RoK Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan on the same day, said that Vietnam considered the RoK one of its key partners and wished the two countries would exert more efforts to deepen the friendship.