On October 20th, 2025, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyễn Tường Văn had a meeting and working session with Mr. Lee Sang Kyeong, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MoLIT) of the Republic of Korea, to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two sides.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister Lee Sang Kyeong emphasized the strong and friendly cooperative relationship between Korea and Vietnam over the past years. In particular, with the recent state visit to Korea by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Tô Lâm, the two countries have opened a new chapter in their cooperative relations.
Mr. Lee Sang Kyeong noted that several Korean enterprises are currently investing in the development of new urban areas and industrial zones in Vietnam. He expressed his hope that the two sides would continue to strengthen cooperation in the coming time, particularly in the fields of urban development, infrastructure, and housing.
.jpg)
Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van spoke at the meeting.
To expand cooperation in the field of transportation between the two countries, Deputy Minister Lee Sang Kyeong invited the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam to attend the World Smart City Expo, scheduled to be held in Busan, Korea, in September 2026. He also proposed that the two sides jointly organize the Korea–Vietnam Railway Cooperation Conference in early 2026, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on bilateral railway cooperation that has been signed.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Tường Văn highly appreciated the attention and support that Korea has given to Vietnam over the past years through ODA-funded technical assistance projects such as the Green Urban Planning Project in Vietnam; the Project on Establishing the Vietnam-Korea Cooperation Center for Smart Cities and Construction Technology (VKC); and the Project on Strengthening Urban Development Management Capacity to Respond to Climate Change through the Development of Vietnam’s Urban Planning and Development Information System (UPIS).
.jpg)
Deputy Minister Lee Sang Kyeong spoke at the meeting.
“Vietnam and Korea jointly organized a mid-term report and consultation workshop on the project ‘Technical Assistance for Strengthening Urban Development Management Capacity to Respond to Climate Change through the Development of Vietnam’s Urban Planning and Development Information System (UPIS)’. At the event, experts from both sides emphasized the importance of the project and expressed their desire to expand its scope to other provinces and cities across Vietnam,” Văn shared.
Regarding cooperation in the railway sector, Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van highly appreciated and supported MoLIT's proposal to organize the Korea - Vietnam Railway Cooperation Conference in early 2026. The Ministry of Construction has assigned the Vietnam Railway Authority to be the focal point for implementation, closely coordinating with the Korean partner to concretize the cooperation content, and submit it to the leaders of the two ministries for consideration.
.jpg)
Working session scene.
Deputy Minister Nguyễn Tường Văn thanked the Korean side for inviting the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam to attend the 2026 World Smart City Expo and stated that the Ministry would consider including this event in its 2026 work plan. He also noted that the Ministry would coordinate with MoLIT through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam to prepare specific cooperative activities in the near future.
At the end of the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Tường Văn and Deputy Minister Lee Sang Kyeong agreed to further strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea in the coming time, particularly in the fields of urban development, infrastructure, transportation, and housing.