On Monday, South Korean Ambassador in Viet Nam Lee Hyuk met with Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh and municipal People’s Committee (PC) Chairman Huynh Duc Tho.

Ambassador Lee (left) and Secretary Anh

During his reception for South Korean diplomat, Secretary Anh highlighted the fruitful results from the bilateral cooperative relationships with Korean localities and their businesses over recent years.

The city leader remarked that the recent years have seen the growing number of South Korean investors and visitors to the city. 

With regard to the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) from 6-11 November, Secretary Anh noted that preparations are now being kept on track in bid to ensure the great success of this international large-scale event.  In particular, he would like the South Korean Embassy in Viet Nam to join efforts with the city authorities to ensure the best reception for the South Korean President during his attendance at AELW 2017.

The host also hoped that, after the ‘APEC Viet Nam 2017’ programme concludes, the city would attract even more South Korean investment inflows, and the most favourable conditions would be created for South Korean businesses to operate effectively here.  In a seminar vein, the local safe and friendly tourism environment will be secured for South Korean visitors during their stay in the city.

In particular, Secretary Anh vowed that the city authorities would facilitate the opening of South Korean Consulate General in Da Nang in the future years.

In reply, Ambassador Lee remarked that Da Nang is emerging as an attractive new destination for investors and travellers from his country.  He would like the city authorities to facilitate the upgrade of the city-based Viet Nam-South Korea Friendship IT Junior College into a university in the years ahead to enhance the quality of its training programmes for students across the central region.

The visiting guest also vowed to coordinate with the city authorities to host the South Korean President at the forthcoming AELW 2017, and to place the symbol of his country at this international large-scale event as soon as possible.

Ambassador Lee (left) and Chairman Tho

In another meeting with Ambassador Lee, Chairman Tho expressed his delight at remarkable results from bilateral cooperation with South Korea, especially in tourism.  This has been mainly attributed to the opening of many direct flights connecting Da Nang and South Korean localities over recent years.

Also on Monday, the South Korean naval ships, namely ROKS Kang Gam Chan (DDH-979) and ROKS Hwacheon (AOE-59), docked at the Tien Sa Port to begin an official 4-day visit to the city.  The 2 ships carry a total of 633 officers and crew members who are led by Rear Admiral Yang Yong-mo, the commander of the South Korean maritime patrol training group.

During his meeting with Rear Admiral Yang, municipal PC Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh happily said that South Korea is now Da Nang’s largest foreign investor with 70 projects totalling over 530 million USD.  The city has to date established bilateral cooperation with 6 South Korean localities.

The ROKS Kang Gam Chan (DDH-979)

Rear Admiral Yang said that this is the first time he and other South Korean naval officers have visited the city.  He hoped that this visit would deepen the mutual understanding and friendship between Vietnamese and South Korean naval forces in the years ahead.

During their ongoing stay in the city, the South Korean naval officers are scheduled to participate in sports exchange activities with their colleagues from the Zone 3 Naval High Command, and to visit children who are being cared for at the municipal Charity Centre.

The ROKS Hwacheon (AOE-59)

In addition, the visiting guests will present a total of 11,000 Korean language teaching books to the Da Nang General Science Library, the city’s University of Foreign Languages and Studies, and some relevant local agencies.