Phu Tho Province and Chungcheongbuk Province (South Korea): Elevating Friendly Cooperation, Opening a Comprehensive and Sustainable Development Cycle

On the afternoon of October 26, High-Level Talks and the Handover Ceremony of the Friendly Cooperation Agreement between Phu Tho province and Chungcheongbuk province (South Korea) took place at the Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee Office.

This is an important event marking a new strategic development step, elevating cooperative relations between the two localities in a substantive and comprehensive direction.

Secretary of the Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee Pham Dai Duong and Governor of Chungcheongbuk Province Shin Yong Han exchanging the Friendly Cooperation Agreement.

Comrade Pham Dai Duong — Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation of Phu Tho province — chaired the talks.

Also attending from Phu Tho province were Members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee: Phan Trong Tan — Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Duong Hoang Huong — Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; alongside representatives from relevant provincial departments, boards, and units.

From Chungcheongbuk province, Governor Shin Yong Han served as Delegation Head. Co-attending were Mr. Yoo Jung Hyun — Ambassador for International Relations; Ms. Jeon Hee Jung — Director General of International Trade; alongside leaders of specialized agencies from Chungcheongbuk province.

Delegates attending the talks.

Delivering welcoming remarks, Provincial Party Secretary Pham Dai Duong expressed great joy in receiving Governor Shin Yong Han and the working delegation visiting, working, and attending the Friendly Cooperation Agreement handover ceremony in Phu Tho.

He emphasized that the visit carries special importance, taking place amidst the backdrop of well-developing Vietnam–South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership relations. The high-level talks and agreement handover this time open up new, deeper development opportunities between both localities.

Provincial Party Secretary Pham Dai Duong speaking at the talks.

Briefing on the socio-economic situation, Secretary Pham Dai Duong clarified: Phu Tho is the ancestral land of culture and history of the Vietnamese nation, possessing a strategic location within the Capital Region and serving as a vital trade connectivity hub between Northern Mid-mountain and Mountainous provinces with Hanoi and the Northern Delta.

With increasingly synchronized transport and industrial infrastructure, abundant human resources, and a transparent, open investment environment, Phu Tho is becoming an attractive destination for foreign investors.

Particularly, South Korea currently leads in project numbers and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) capital in Phu Tho. The success of South Korean enterprises contributes positively to economic growth, budget revenue, job creation, and local social welfare assurance; while serving as vivid proof of the province’s safe and effective investment environment.

Chungcheongbuk province focuses on semiconductors, IT, secondary batteries, and electronics. Among these, the province holds first place in South Korea in semiconductor chip and secondary battery manufacturing. The province also possesses strengths in agriculture and tourism, attracting a large volume of tourists, particularly visitors from Vietnam. Within Phu Tho province, several major Chungcheongbuk enterprises are operating in Khai Quang Industrial Park, such as Jahwa Vina Company and Power Logics Vina Company...

Expressing deep impression at the respectful reception by Phu Tho province, Chungcheongbuk Governor Shin Yong Han affirmed that both localities share many similarities, particularly both being provinces with high economic growth rates.

Highly appreciating the efficiency of administrative boundary reorganization to expand economic scale and development space for Vietnam generally and Phu Tho province specifically, Mr. Shin Yong Han shared that this is a valuable lesson that Chungcheongbuk pays close attention to.

Governor of Chungcheongbuk Province Shin Yong Han speaking at the talks.

Mr. Shin Yong Han committed to actively connecting and promoting Chungcheongbuk enterprises to step up investment in Phu Tho, focusing on high-tech industries; while concurrently strengthening cultural, educational, and human resource development exchange activities between both sides.

At the talks, in a spirit of candor, trust, and mutual understanding, leaders of both provinces exchanged and comprehensively evaluated each side’s potentials and strengths, while engaging in deep discussions on key cooperative directions moving forward.

Overview of the talks.

Inheriting and developing traditional friendly relations established since 2008 between Chungcheongbuk and former Vinh Phuc, while opening up a new cooperative framework between the two provinces post-consolidation, Provincial Party Secretary Pham Dai Duong proposed both sides increase delegation exchanges and establish regular coordination mechanisms.

He suggested continuing to step up investment promotion activities and business connections; expanding cooperation across high-tech fields, supporting industries, high-tech agriculture, education and training, healthcare, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Concurrently, he affirmed that Phu Tho commits to consistently accompanying and creating the most favorable conditions in administrative procedures, site clearance, infrastructure, and human resources so that investors from Chungcheongbuk specifically and South Korea generally can operate with peace of mind over the long term.

Governor Shin Yong Han highly evaluated Phu Tho’s impressive socio-economic development achievements and affirmed that Chungcheongbuk attaches special importance to this cooperative relationship. The determination of leadership on both sides will serve as a solid foundation to bring cooperative programs into depth, delivering practical efficiency for citizens and the business community.

In a formal atmosphere filled with solidarity, Phu Tho Provincial Party Secretary Pham Dai Duong and Chungcheongbuk Governor Shin Yong Han officially handed over the Friendly Cooperation Agreement between the two localities. This important event established a firm legal framework, opening up comprehensive new development spaces and opportunities for both Phu Tho and Chungcheongbuk.

According to the agreement, both sides commit to driving bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation in a practical, effective direction; expanding scientific and technological cooperation in pioneering fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and innovative industries; while focusing on talent exchange and cultivation.

Beside this, both localities will step up the application of advanced agricultural technology, developing smart agriculture; enhancing human resource exchanges for cadres, civil servants, public employees, research forces, youth, and international students.

Alongside elevating the efficiency of cultural, artistic, tourism, and sports exchanges, Phu Tho and Chungcheongbuk also agreed to continue expanding cooperation across other potential fields of mutual interest, contributing to tightening friendly ties between both localities.

Provincial Party Secretary Pham Dai Duong presenting commemorative gifts to Chungcheongbuk Governor Shin Yong Han.

Chungcheongbuk Governor Shin Yong Han presenting commemorative gifts to Provincial Party Secretary Pham Dai Duong.

On this occasion, leaders of both provinces presented meaningful commemorative gifts. Phu Tho province presented the working delegation with a symbolic replica of Tro Temple Stupa—a distinct cultural heritage item of the Ancestral Land—alongside representative local OCOP products, sending messages of solidarity, friendship, and sustainable cooperation.

Dinh Vu