Exchange to promote cooperation between Nghe An and the 6th largest city of Korea
(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of June 9, in Vinh City, Nghe An Province, a working delegation from Gwangju City (Korea) led by Mr. Chang Kyoon Jeong - Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, discussed cooperation areas. Receiving and working with the delegation from Nghe An Province were Mr. Tran Khanh Thuc - Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, along with leaders of a number of relevant departments, agencies and sectors.
 |
Overview of the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy |
Gwangju is the 6th largest city in South Korea, directly under the Central Government, located in the southwest of the Korean peninsula. This is where large Korean corporations such as Hyundai, Daewoo, Kia... have industrial complexes producing automobiles and machinery.
Gwangju is also one of the leading localities in Korea in developing artificial intelligence (AI) through the implementation of the “Gwangju City - Center of Artificial Intelligence” Project. Transformation and innovation have transformed Gwangju into a global city.
This is also a locality with developed agriculture with main products being rice and clean vegetables; and is known as the "cradle of Korean cuisine".
 |
Director of Nghe An Department of Foreign Affairs Tran Khanh Thuc speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy |
Gwangju City is also known as the city of art, home to many artists and is being focused on by the Korean Government to build it into an Asian Cultural Center.
At the meeting, the Gwangju city delegation heard a general introduction about Nghe An province, the investment environment, and the province's preferential investment policies.
Currently, in Nghe An, Korean enterprises have invested about 135 million USD and employed nearly 10,000 workers. Trade turnover between Nghe An and Korea has grown over the years. Accordingly, in 2021, Nghe An mainly exported to Korea items such as textiles, corrugated iron, and electronic components with a total turnover of 231 million USD.
 |
Mr. Chang Kyoon Jeong - Director of Gwangju City Department of Foreign Affairs spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy |
On the contrary, Nghe An imported from Korea 206 million USD with textile raw materials, leather shoes, phone components;... In the field of labor, each year Nghe An sends to Korea about 500 - 700 workers under the EPS Program (a program specifically for foreign workers working in Korea).
On the basis of the comprehensive cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Korea which is assessed to be very dynamic and in-depth, Mr. Tran Khanh Thuc - Director of Nghe An Department of Foreign Affairs also discussed and proposed a number of areas for the two sides to study and cooperate such as: attracting investment from Gwangju, trade exchange, education, vocational training, tourism, cultural exchange.
 |
Gwangju City is located in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula, often known as the "City of Light". Photo: Google Maps. |
Mr. Chang Kyoon Jeong - Director of Gwangju Department of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the city wishes to cooperate in all fields with Nghe An province and this working trip is an important premise to be able to sign an agreement to establish friendly and cooperative relations with Nghe An.
Based on proposals from Nghe An, Mr. Chang Kyoon Jeong also discussed specific areas, especially the potential for cooperation in the field of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI). Gwangju is also ready to receive officials and civil servants from Nghe An to study and train in the city.
 |
| Gwangju City has an area of 501 km2, with a population of nearly 1.5 million people. Photo: Internet |
Mr. Chang Kyoon Jeong also said that the city will send experts to support dental training at Vinh Medical University for about 20 - 30 students, of which, the 5 people with the best results will continue to be sponsored by the city to continue studying in Gwangju.
The Gwangju city delegation also expressed their desire to cooperate in areas such as tourism and labor with Nghe An province.
 |
| Leaders of the Department of Foreign Affairs and some departments and branches of Nghe An took souvenir photos with the delegation of Gwangju city. Photo: Thanh Duy |
On behalf of the leaders of departments, branches and units, Mr. Tran Khanh Thuc - Director of Nghe An Department of Foreign Affairs expressed his belief that the information exchanged between the two sides at the meeting will be the foundation and basis for Nghe An province and Gwangju city to coordinate to promote cooperation activities in the coming time to be most in-depth, substantive and effective.