Long-lasting and sustainable friendship

Nearly 23 years ago, the leaders of Khanh Hoa Province and Ulsan City (South Korea) signed a friendship cooperation agreement. Since then, the governments and people of Khanh Hoa and Ulsan have continuously promoted mutual understanding, strengthened cooperation and fostered friendship across various fields, leading to remarkable achievements.

Nguyen Tan Tuan and Kim Doo Gyum exchange a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between Khanh Hoa Province and Ulsan City.

Fostering friendship

On September 23, 2024, within the framework of a working visit of the Khanh Hoa provincial delegation to Ulsan City, Nguyen Tan Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Kim Doo Gyum, Mayor of Ulsan City, signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between the two localities. In particular, the two sides agreed on many key areas to strengthen cooperation in the fields of delegation exchange; economic investment, tourism, trade, cultural exchange, people-to-people exchange, etc.

Speaking at the working session with the leaders of Ulsan City, Nguyen Tan Tuan thanked Ulsan City for its support in training, cultural exchange and equipment support for Khanh Hoa Province in recent years. He also expressed hope that in the future, the friendship between the two sides would serve as a foundation for expanding economic cooperation and attracting investors from Ulsan to Khanh Hoa. Khanh Hoa Province would provide maximum support to the South Korean government and enterprises in general and Ulsan city in particular in labor recruitment, investment procedures, etc. On behalf of Ulsan City government, Kim Doo Gyum affirmed that Ulsan City is always willing to promote cooperation with Khanh Hoa Province, especially in the field of labor and employment.

Provincial leaders pose with artists in the Vietnam - South Korea art exchange program in Khanh Hoa.

After nearly 23 years of establishing their friendship, the two sides have carried out numerous activities, including organizing working delegations and art troupes. Ulsan City has supported many training and professional development programs for Khanh Hoa Province. From 2012 to 2014, Ulsan City sent volunteer medical teams to assist with medical examinations and treatments.

In 2021, Ulsan City supported the province with 1,350 Covid-19 rapid test kits. HD Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Ulsan City) is operating effectively in Khanh Hoa Province. In 2023, the Provincial Police received 5 fire trucks and rescue vehicles donated by the Ulsan City Fire Prevention and Fighting Department. The cooperation between Khanh Hoa Province and Ulsan City has evolved practically and effectively.

Strengthening bilateral relations

To concretize the content of the memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between Khanh Hoa Province and Ulsan City, on December 18, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued a plan to implement cooperation activities between the two sides in the period of 2025 - 2026. According to Le Huu Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the plan is to foster a comprehensive strategic friendship between Vietnam and South Korea in general, the cooperation between Khanh Hoa Province and Ulsan City in particular, thus promoting the destination of Khanh Hoa Province to Ulsan City; enhancing exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economic investment, tourism, education, human resource development, delegation exchange, etc.; sharing experience, fostering cooperation between individuals and organizations of Khanh Hoa Province and Ulsan City.

Traditional dance from Ulsan City in the Vietnam - South Korea art exchange program.

In the next 2 years, Khanh Hoa Province and Ulsan City will organize many working delegations in various sectors and many cultural exchange events. The province will have policies to attract investors from Ulsan City in construction, infrastructure business of industrial clusters, ecological industrial parks, high-tech industrial parks, industrial, urban and service zones to develop high-tech industrial projects, supporting industries, processing and manufacturing industries; develop unique tourism products for travelers from South Korea in general and Ulsan City in particular; diversify tourism promotion; provide job information for workers from Khanh Hoa Province to work in Ulsan City; connect with partners in Ulsan City to invest in equipment for vocational schools in Khanh Hoa; encourage educational institutions in the province to cooperate with partners from Ulsan City; enhance cultural and art exchanges, including regularly organizing Vietnam – South Korea cultural exchange activities in Khanh Hoa Province, etc.

Along with the issuance of the plan to strengthen cooperation with Ulsan City, the Provincial People's Committee also clearly stated the list of specific tasks to relevant departments and localities showing the provincial leaders’ determination to strengthen the long-lasting and sustainable friendship between Khanh Hoa and Ulsan City.

G.D

Translated by N.T