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Busan–Ho Chi Minh Sister City 30th Anniversary… Opening of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse, Ngô Phuong Ly, visited Busan today (13th) as part of their state visit to Korea.

Over 100 members of the high-level Vietnamese delegation, including the General Secretary and his spouse, accompanied the visit to Busan.

This visit was arranged to celebrate the opening of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan—33 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam in 1992—and the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Busan and Ho Chi Minh City, established in 1995.

Over the past three decades, Busan and Ho Chi Minh City have maintained continuous exchanges in various sectors including economy, culture, and education. This occasion is expected to serve as a catalyst for Busan, aiming to become a global hub city, and Vietnam, continuing its dynamic economic growth, to further strengthen human, economic, and cultural exchanges in diverse fields such as maritime logistics, advanced industries, and cultural tourism.

The Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan is scheduled to open in the BEXCO E-Centum Class One building in Haeundae-gu.

At 10:45 a.m. today (13th), the main event—the “Opening Ceremony of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan and the 30th Anniversary of the Busan–Ho Chi Minh Sister City Relationship”—was held at the Lotte Hotel Busan.

The ceremony was attended by General Secretary Tô Lâm, Mayor Park Heong-joon, Busan Metropolitan Council Chairman Ahn Sung-min, the Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, inaugural Consul General of Vietnam in Busan Doan Phuong Lan, as well as over 300 participants including business leaders from Vietnam and Busan.

The commemorative ceremony featured congratulatory speeches from representatives of each city and performances showcasing the traditional cultures of both countries, enhancing the significance of cultural exchange. The Busan Metropolitan Dance Company performed the Jindo Bukchum (drum dance), while Ho Chi Minh City presented a variety of cultural performances including a traditional music orchestra, the Lotus Theatre performance, and musical performances.

During a meeting prior to the event, General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasized to Mayor Park, “We are at a strategic moment when regions in Vietnam with strong potential and Busan can strengthen practical cooperation in priority areas such as science and technology, satellite city development, commercial centers, logistics hubs, and the construction of infrastructure and tourism facilities.”

Mayor Park stated, “I sincerely welcome the opening of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan. Korea is currently Vietnam’s top investor, and Busan and Ho Chi Minh City have maintained a special relationship based on unwavering friendship and trust since the signing of the sister city agreement in 1995.” He added, “I hope today will serve as a new leap forward toward a future of shared prosperity.”

Following this, at 3:15 p.m., the “Busan–Ho Chi Minh Business Forum” was held at the Lotte Hotel Busan, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center. The event brought together business leaders from both cities to discuss concrete measures to promote trade and investment cooperation between Busan and Ho Chi Minh City.

The forum included introductions to the investment and trade environments of both cities, as well as corporate presentations, and was expected to serve as an opportunity to enhance economic cooperation.

In particular, in-depth discussions were held on ways to promote cooperation between Vietnamese and Korean companies through a panel discussion featuring business representatives from both countries.

In addition, a total of five agreements, including a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Becamex—Vietnam’s state-owned general development corporation—and the Busan Port Authority (BPA), were signed to lay the foundation for expanding practical exchanges.

*The MOU between Becamex and BPA is intended to promote cooperation in areas such as connection, development, and operation of port infrastructure, logistics, and the establishment of a smart industrial ecosystem.

The Vietnamese delegation will also tour major facilities in Busan to explore future cooperation opportunities and discuss ways to promote friendly exchanges between the two cities.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “This visit by the General Secretary of Vietnam, the opening of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan, and the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship will serve as a historic milestone to further solidify the friendship built between the two cities over the past 30 years and advance economic and cultural exchanges.” He added, “We will continue to enhance exchanges to raise the status of Busan as a global hub city.”

Mayor Park also expressed gratitude to former Honorary Consul General Park Soo-kwan for his significant contributions to exchanges between the two countries during his 15-year tenure as Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Busan.