The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Hwa-jin) announced that the 16th Korea-Vietnam Environment Ministers’ Meeting was held in Seoul on July 1 with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam.

Since 2000, the two countries have institutionalized ministerial-level meetings to review overall environmental cooperation and continuously identify and implement new cooperation needs. At this 16th meeting, Minister of Environment Han Hwa-jin and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam Dang Quoc Khanh participated as the chief representatives of both countries.

At the meeting, both countries welcomed the launch of the 1st Korea-Vietnam Joint Committee on Climate Change Cooperation, marking the first step in greenhouse gas reduction cooperation. They agreed to hold a capacity-building workshop soon to discuss in depth Korea’s experience in operating the greenhouse gas emissions trading system and ways to link it with international reduction projects.

* The launch was discussed via a video conference on June 20 this year to strengthen climate change response cooperation between Korea and Vietnam.  

The Ministry of Environment also requested cooperation from the Vietnamese side to link the Ha Tinh City’s smart water management system project to a pilot or main project as soon as the preliminary feasibility study is completed. 

In particular, due to the surge in investment in green technology and industry between the two countries, the Ministry of Environment has actively supported cooperation not only between governments but also between companies, in line with Vietnam’s environmental policy legislation and demand for green infrastructure. 

As a follow-up measure, the two countries agreed at the meeting to operate an organic communication channel for green industry cooperation between the two countries, enabling Korean companies to smoothly participate in projects such as the Yen Binh steam supply project, which is being promoted as Vietnam’s first circular economy resource project.

In addition, the two countries signed an implementation plan agreement to strengthen the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Environmental Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in November last year, along with four MOUs detailing cooperation in key environmental areas. 

* Water resources cooperation, biodiversity cooperation, transfer of knowledge on Korea’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system operation to Vietnam, support for Vietnam’s government in operating the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, and cooperation on international greenhouse gas reduction projects  

Through these agreements, the ministry has agreed to support Vietnam’s watershed management and river restoration efforts in the future, transfer knowledge on Korea’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system operation methods, and collaborate on joint surveys of biodiversity in wetland conservation areas and exploration of biotic resources.

Minister Han Hwa-jin of the Ministry of Environment mentioned, “Through this meeting, we reaffirmed the environmental cooperation needs and intentions of both countries, and advanced our environmental cooperation to the next level by signing four environmental MOUs to solidify collaborative projects.” She emphasized the continued necessity of expanding environmental cooperation between the two countries. 

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com