Working with the Korean Forest Service and Partners

Dr. Park Chongho – Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO); Mr. Nam Song Hee – Director General, International Affairs Bureau, Korea Forest Service (KFS); Leaders of the National Remote Sensing Center of Korea; Directors of the Sejong National Arboretum and the Namsan Seoul Botanical Garden; renowned landscape design expert – Dr. Yun Ho Jun; and Prof. Park Byung Bae – Chungnam National University.

Working with the Korea Forest Service

At the meetings, the parties agreed on many key areas of cooperation, notably the plans to: Establish a Remote Sensing Center in Vietnam; Collaborate on REDD+ programs and forestry carbon credits; Provide training and capacity building for VNUF lecturers and students.

 

Promoting Strategic Projects: ASEAN – Korea Friendship Garden and Bamboo Development

In the meeting with the Executive Director of AFoCO, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien discussed the progress of the ASEAN – Korea Friendship Garden Project, which is being implemented on the University's campus.

AFoCO Executive Director – Dr. Park Chongho receives and works with the delegation

Both sides reaffirmed their long-term commitment to cooperation and further discussed expansion initiatives, including a project to develop bamboo raw material zones in the Northern and Central regions of Vietnam.

Dr. Park Chongho affirmed: "AFoCO always supports Vietnam's projects in general and VNUF in particular. We hope the University will implement the current project on schedule, effectively, and with widespread impact."

Commemorative photo at AFoCO headquarters

Optimizing the Friendship Garden Design and Learning from Practical Models

During the meeting with Dr. Yun Ho Jun – botanical garden design expert, both sides exchanged detailed ideas on the landscape design plan for the ASEAN – Korea Friendship Garden, aiming to highlight the architectural identity of both Vietnam and Korea in a harmonious and vibrant way.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Van Ha presents the design plan for the ASEAN – Korea Friendship Garden

Alongside professional meetings, the delegation visited and worked with leaders of the Sejong National Arboretum, Namsan Seoul Botanical Garden, and the Seoul Cultural and Historical Park to learn from experiences in planning, operation, and ecological-cultural landscape design.

Working with leaders of the Sejong National Arboretum

Opening New Opportunities for Vietnamese Forestry

The working trip was a great success, not only strengthening cooperative relations with South Korean partners but also opening up many new strategic prospects in international education, scientific research, technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable forestry development in line with global integration trends.

Some photos from the work trip

Commemorative photo at AFoCO headquarters and the National Remote Sensing Center of Korea

President Pham Van Dien presents a souvenir to the Director General of the International Cooperation Bureau, Korea Forest Service

President Pham Van Dien presents a souvenir to Mr. Chang Ho Shin – President of the Sejong National Arboretum

Prof. Hoang Van Sam presents the book Mangrove Forests of the Red River Delta to Mr. Nam Song Hee – Director General of the International Cooperation Bureau, Korea Forest Service (who wrote the book's foreword)

Field visit to learn from experience at the Seoul Cultural and Historical Park

Visit to the Sejong National Arboretum

Consultation with Prof. Dr. Park Byung Bae – Chungnam National University

Source: ICD