Ho Chi Minh City looks to foster science, technology cooperation with S.Korea’s Daegu

At a meeting on Friday with a Daegu delegation led by acting mayor Kim Jeong Ki, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City administration Nguyen Van Duoc welcomed the visitors and thanked Kim for his congratulatory letter marking Vietnam’s 14th National Party Congress, scheduled for January 19 to 25.

Duoc noted the steady growth of ties between the two cities since they established cooperative relations in May 2015.

He said cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Daegu, South Korea’s fourth-largest city, has remained active and substantive over the past decade, marked by regular delegation exchanges and expanding practical cooperation.

Duoc added that Daegu’s representative office in Ho Chi Minh City has played an important role in connecting more Daegu businesses with investment opportunities, while annual cultural exchanges, along with trade and tourism promotion activities, have further strengthened people-to-people ties.

The city’s chairman also highlighted South Korea as one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most important economic partners, noting that the country is currently the city’s fourth-largest foreign investor, with more than 2,300 valid projects and cumulative investment of about US$5.5 billion.

Looking ahead, Duoc outlined several priority areas for deeper cooperation.

In science, technology, and innovation, he said Ho Chi Minh City hopes Daegu will share experience in planning and operating high-tech zones and help strengthen linkages between the Saigon High-Tech Park and Daegu’s research institutes and technology enterprises.

He added that the city seeks closer cooperation with Daegu universities such as Kyungpook National University, Keimyung University, and Yeungnam University through exchange and joint training programs, particularly in artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, new energy, and healthcare.

In smart city development, Duoc said Ho Chi Minh City is keen to learn from Daegu’s experience in urban data management, intelligent transport systems, e-government, and the Suseong Alpha City smart city model.

He added that following the recent administrative merger with the former provinces of Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City now maintains friendship and cooperation ties with 12 South Korean localities, making South Korea one of the city’s leading partners in terms of subnational cooperation.

For his part, acting mayor Kim thanked Ho Chi Minh City leaders for their warm reception and congratulated the city on its recent socio-economic achievements.

He said the city’s growing role as Vietnam’s economic engine and a dynamic regional hub has made it an increasingly attractive destination for South Korean localities and businesses.

Kim affirmed that Daegu values its long-standing friendship with Ho Chi Minh City and is keen to further strengthen cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and understanding built over many years.

Agreeing with Duoc’s proposals to strengthen science and technology cooperation, Kim urged deeper collaboration across multiple areas of mutual strength, including trade, investment, high-tech industry, innovation, education and training, healthcare, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

He also called for expanded exchanges of delegations and closer sharing of experience in urban management and economic development.

Kim added that more practical and results-oriented cooperation would bring tangible benefits to residents and businesses in both cities, help strengthen Ho Chi Minh City–Daegu ties, and further deepen relations between Vietnam and South Korea in the years ahead.

Vietnam and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992, upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2009, and elevated the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022.