Ho Chi Minh City seeks expanded cooperation with South Korea

Vo Van Minh, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, on Tuesday welcomed Jung Jung Tae, South Korea’s newly appointed consul general, as the diplomat began his term in the southern Vietnamese city.

During the meeting, Minh congratulated Jung on his appointment and praised the growing relationship between Vietnam and South Korea, which he said had been reinforced through recent high-level visits by leaders from both countries.

He cited Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s visit to South Korea in August 2025 and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s trip to Vietnam last month as evidence of increasingly strong bilateral ties.

According to Minh, South Korea has remained one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most important economic partners for years.

South Korea is currently the city’s second-largest foreign investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment reaching US$15.7 billion, while two-way trade between the city and South Korea totaled $6.4 billion in 2025.

More than 2,000 South Korean businesses and over 80,000 South Korean residents now live and work in Ho Chi Minh City, forming a major community that officials described as a bridge for friendship and cooperation between both sides.

Following its administrative merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau last July, Ho Chi Minh City has also established sister-city relations with 12 South Korean localities, making South Korea one of the countries with the most local partnerships with the Vietnamese city.

Minh said that the city has continued refining policies aimed at improving the investment environment, strengthening urban governance, and creating more favorable conditions for foreign investors, including South Korean companies.

Minh requested the South Korean diplomat to support cooperation in smart and sustainable urban development, climate adaptation, innovation, and high-tech industries.

He also stressed the importance of transparency, legal stability, and improved public services in healthcare, education, and social welfare.

Jung expressed appreciation for the city’s support and said South Korean businesses and residents in Ho Chi Minh City are eager for continued collaboration.

He pledged to strengthen ties between the city and South Korean localities during his tenure.