Signing of a memorandum of understanding on friendship and cooperation between Bac Ninh province and Gyeongsangbuk province (South Korea)

BAC NINH - On the morning of December 3, comrade Pham Hoang Son, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting and signed the Memorandum of Understanding on friendship and cooperation between Bac Ninh province and Gyeongsangbuk province (South Korea) led by Mr. Lee Cheol Woo, Governor of the province, who visited and worked in Bac Ninh. Also attending were leaders of a number of departments, branches, businesses, and universities of the two provinces of Bac Ninh and Gyeongsangbuk.

Báo Bắc Ninh•03/12/2025

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son and Governor Lee Cheol Woo signed a memorandum of understanding on friendship and cooperation between Bac Ninh province and Gyeongsangbuk province.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on Friendship and Cooperation between the two provinces, Comrade Pham Hoang Son expressed his pleasure to welcome Mr. Lee Cheol Woo and the delegation of the Gyeongsangbuk Provincial Government. He emphasized that Vietnam and Korea are two countries with a traditional friendship that has been increasingly strengthened and developed by the high-ranking leaders of the two countries.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son briefed the Gyeongsangbuk Provincial Delegation on some of Bac Ninh's outstanding socio-economic achievements. Accordingly, from July 1, 2025, Bac Ninh province was newly established on the basis of merging Bac Ninh province (formerly) with Bac Giang province. After the merger, the new Bac Ninh province has an area of 4,719 km², a population of 3.62 million people, a labor force of over 60% of the population, and many socio-economic indicators are among the top in the country. Gyeongsangbuk province and Bac Ninh have many similarities, both provinces have Samsung factory headquarters, which are considered the driving force for local economic growth. In particular, Bac Ninh province is the origin of the Ly Dynasty, and Gyeongsangbuk province is where Prince Ly Long Tuong of the Ly Dynasty settled more than 800 years ago... these are strong links for cooperation between the two localities.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son and Governor Lee Cheol Woo exchanged contents of the memorandum of understanding on friendship and cooperation.

Affirming that the cooperation foundation of the two provinces began to be officially built since the affiliated localities established friendly cooperative relations such as Tu Son city (formerly) and Bonghwa district (since November 2018), Bac Ninh city (formerly) and Gumi city (since October 2019). In November 2023, the two localities signed a Memorandum of Understanding on friendly cooperation during the visit of Gyeongsangbuk province leaders to Bac Ninh. After that, the two provinces and affiliated localities carried out many cooperative exchange activities such as exchanging delegations, organizing investment promotion seminars, meeting businesses, exchanging, promoting culture, etc.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son affirmed that the historical and modern connections have led the two localities to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on friendly cooperation and exchange, especially after the newly established Bac Ninh province had more favorable conditions and potential for cooperation. He believes that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding today will open up opportunities for comprehensive development between the provinces in the fields of investment, trade, health, education , science and technology, cultural and social exchange, etc., contributing to promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Korea.

Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son hopes that the two localities will continue to promote the implementation of cooperation activities: Encourage and introduce Korean enterprises in general and enterprises of Gyeongsangbuk province in particular to learn about investment in Bac Ninh, especially in the fields that Bac Ninh is prioritizing such as semiconductor industry, pharmaceuticals - cosmetics, microbiology... He affirmed that Bac Ninh province always welcomes and creates the most favorable conditions for enterprises to come and operate production and business effectively in the province. At the same time, implement activities to promote culture, heritages and people-to-people diplomacy; join hands to promote the Vietnam Village project to be implemented and built to become a symbol of long-term cultural cooperation, contributing to fostering friendship and understanding between the people of Vietnam and Korea.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son presented Governor Lee Cheol Woo with craft village products of Bac Ninh province.

Mr. Lee Cheol Woo thanked the leaders of Bac Ninh province for their warm welcome to the delegation of Gyeongsangbuk province, and expressed his impressions when visiting Bac Ninh province for the second time. At the same time, he shared information about the locality with the leaders of Bac Ninh province. Accordingly, Gyeongsangbuk province is one of the key localities for industrial and educational development, has many historical relics, is the old capital of Korea... In the province, there are 4 regional research centers, 350 R&D centers, 2 software development promotion centers... Based on many similarities and the historical connection of the Ly family, it will create a solid foundation for the cooperative relationship between Bac Ninh province and Gyeongsangbuk province to develop more and more. Hopefully, the cooperation between the two localities will be raised to a new level. The Governor suggested that the two provinces soon implement the signing of a cooperation agreement on the sisterhood relationship in Korea. We respectfully invite the leaders of Bac Ninh province to visit Gyeongsangbuk province in the near future.

Scene of the signing ceremony of the memorandum of cooperation.

On this occasion, the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province and the Government of Gyeongsangbuk province signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the following contents: The two sides will jointly carry out delegation exchange and people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding based on the financial capacity of each side or the agreement of the two sides in each specific case; cooperate and exchange information and experience in economic development, trade, agriculture, culture, tourism, health, education and training and other fields of mutual interest; strive to create a favorable environment for businesses to directly cooperate and develop; exchange students between universities and colleges; provide and exchange labor force in a stable manner.

The two sides agreed to promote the implementation of the Vietnamese Village Project in Bonghwa to introduce and promote the Ly Dynasty in Vietnam and to promote the role and position of the Vietnamese Ly Family (Ly Hoa Son) in Gyeongsangbuk Province. Together, they will make efforts to promote exchange and cooperation activities within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding in accordance with the laws and relevant regulations of each country, international treaties to which each country is a member and the laws of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit.

The Memorandum of Understanding shall be effective for 5 years and shall be automatically renewed for further periods of 5 years, unless either Party gives the other Party written notice of its intention to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding at least 3 months prior to the date of renewal.

Delegates take souvenir photos.

On this occasion, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son presented Mr. Lee Cheol Woo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk Province, with unique products of Bac Ninh craft village.

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