On Wednesday afternoon, the Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman, Mr Van Huu Chien, hosted a reception for a group of representatives from South Korea’s Changwon City, led by its mayor Mr Kim Seok Ki.

Chairman Chien said that his city and Changwon City share many similarities in geographical position and development strategies, which favour the development of bilateral cooperative ties for mutual benefit.

Also at the event, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in aspects which the two localities have the greatest potential.  In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to strengthen the bilateral friendship and cooperation between the two cities.  Under the agreement, the focus will be on boosting exchange activities at all levels, as well as promoting the implementation of cooperation programmes in administration, the economy, education, and arts and cultural exchanges.  Top priority will also be given to organising exchange activities between the two cities for government officials and teenagers.  In addition, special attention will be paid to creating even more favourable conditions for closer government and private agency links between the two cities in the near future.

The Memorandum of Understanding being signed

Da Nang is now home to 35 South Korean projects, with a total investment of over 705 million USD.  The majority of them are real estate projects, but others specialise in manufacturing textiles and garments, and leather and footwear.  Generally, these projects have been deployed rapidly by investors from South Korea, and they have operated effectively in the city.  In the past, Da Nang has cooperated with the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Viet Nam to hold a number of meaningful events to expand the bilateral cooperation between the city’s businesses and those from South Korea.  Events have included a seminar to appeal for more businesses from South Korea to invest in Da Nang, and a round-table discussion to accelerate economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.