The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that Minister Han Wha-jin will visit Hanoi, Vietnam from October 31 to November 2 for the 15th Annual Korea-Vietnam Environment Ministers Meeting and other related events. During the visit, the Minister will discuss key environmental issues between the two countries and engage in activities to support the establishment of a foundation for overseas expansion of green industries.

The Korea-Vietnam Environment Ministers Meeting is a regular ministerial-level meeting that began in 2000 to discuss the development of environmental cooperation between the two countries and promote friendship. The 15th meeting, held after a five-year hiatus since the 14th meeting in Seoul in 2018, holds even greater significance due to the impact of factors such as COVID-19.

On November 1, Minister Han Wha-jin will meet with Minister Dang Quoc Khanh of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Vietnam. They will review the progress of cooperation between the two countries since the 14th Korea-Vietnam Environment Ministers Meeting, particularly in the field of environmental education and training. They will also discuss the enhancement of future environmental cooperation, including "Green Official Development Assistance (Green ODA)" and biodiversity.

Furthermore, Minister Khanh's proposals regarding environmental laws, national environmental master plans, producer responsibility and recycling systems, green finance, and other policy exchanges have received enthusiastic assent. Both sides plan to actively engage in exchanges to ensure that South Korea's environmental policies can be effectively transferred to Vietnam.

In addition, there will be a strong emphasis on the activities of support teams to facilitate the entry of domestic green industry companies into the promising Vietnamese green market, where there is significant demand.

The Ministry of Environment will host a Korea-Vietnam Green Technology Presentation (Hanoi, November 1) to promote South Korea's excellent green technologies and provide support to ensure the spread of domestic companies' achievements.

On the same day, Minister Han Wha-jin is scheduled to participate in the commercial operation ceremony of the Phu Lang waste incineration and power generation facility, established near Bac Ninh, Vietnam, through a joint venture between a domestic company (Chosun Refractories ENG) and a local company.

Minister Han Wha-jin stated, "Since the start of ministerial-level regular meetings in 2000, South Korea and Vietnam have been building a relationship of trust." She added, “We hope that the 15th ministers meeting would be a valuable time to further advance the environmental cooperation relationship between the two countries."

Contact: Kim Yeon-soo, Deputy Director

International Cooperation Division / +82-(0)44-201-6573