The meeting was attended by Mr.  Ha Gwang Yun, Head of the Southeast Asia representative office of Jeollanam-do Province; Mrs. Ahn Eun Joo, Director of the Korea Center for United Nations Human Rights Policy (KOCUN) in Can Tho city; representatives of Korean businesses and communities living and working in Ho Chi Minh city, Can Tho city and Mekong Delta provinces. Can Tho city’s representatives were Mr. Pham Van Hieu - Standing Deputy Secretary of Can Tho municipal Party Committee, Chairman of Can Tho municipal People's Council; Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hai, Member of Standing Committee of Can Tho municipal Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Can Tho municipal People's Council; Mr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Member of Standing Committee of Can Tho municipal Party Committee, Chairman of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho city; Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of Can Tho municipal People's Committee and representatives of departments and districts.

Addressing the event, Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho city, expressed his excitement at the significant achievements of the two countries after 30 years of establishing diplomatic and cooperative relations. Can Tho city identify RoK as one of the most important partners in the process of international integration.

“RoK currently ranks first in terms of direct investment; second in development cooperation, labor, and tourism; third in Vietnam's trade cooperation. On the other hand, Vietnam is the 4th largest trade partner of Korea”, Vice Chairman Hien added.

Over the past 30 years, trade turnover between the two countries has increased 150 times and is approaching the target of 100 billion USD by 2023. In particular, facing the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Strategic Cooperation Partnership between Vietnam and RoK” continues to grow strongly, substantively, and effectively and aims to become a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien said the city had signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with the RoK’s Jeollanam-do province in 2012, with the sides so far engaging in many joint activities in personnel training and cultural promotion. Specifically, the two sides have established the Information Corner of Jeollanam-do province at Can Tho University of Technology and Technology to create favorable conditions for students and people of Can Tho to learn about the geographical features, history, culture, customs, and people of Jeollanam-do province. Moreover, Jeollanam-do province has helped Can Tho overcome difficulties by providing medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the city People's Committee, Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien thanked the Korean government and organizations, and localities for their cooperation and support in implementing many practical programs and activities, making positive contributions to the general development of Can Tho city. At the same time, he expressed his belief that this good cooperation relationship will develop more and more.

Mr. Ha Gwang Yun, head of the Jeollanamdo Southeast Asia Office, expressed his delight with the friendly cooperation between Jeollanam-do and Can Tho in particular and Vietnamese provinces and cities in general, which is building trust and good friendship. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Korea, Mr. Ha Gwang Yun hoped to strengthen collaboration with Can Tho in the fields of petroleum, chemistry, energy, and the environment.

“Currently, there are more than 8,000 RoK’s enterprises in Vietnam, creating 1 million jobs and 30% of Vietnam's total export turnover. Recently, exchanges between the two countries are expanding from economy to many other fields such as culture, sports, and education. In Vietnam, there are also many large supermarkets and convenience stores with RoK’s brands”, Mr. Ha Gwang Yun added.

On this occasion, Can Tho city organizes Vietnam-RoK cultural day. The event attracted 20 stalls displaying traditional Vietnamese and Korean cultural items and dishes. It also featured a cooking contest and fashion show of traditional costumes, musical and martial art performances, and a painting exhibition.

Furthermore, the organizers awarded the contest “learn about Jeollanam-do, the relationship between Can Tho and Jeollanam-do as well as the cooperation relationship between Vietnam and RoK” on social networks; awarded 270 scholarships, each worth 2 million VND (80.51 USD), to disadvantaged students with outstanding academic performances and needy children with Vietnamese mothers and Korean fathers in the Mekong Delta city.