Representing Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) in the signing ceremony were Mr. Jin Sunpil - Deputy Director General of AFoCO, Mr. Pham Duc Chien, Head of AFoCO's Program/Project Management Board and colleagues in the AFoCO Secretariat. 

On the side of VNUF, were: Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien - The University President, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cao Quoc An, Chairman of the University Council, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Van Khoa - Vice President, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui The Doi, Vice President, Director of the International Cooperation Division, heads of related units and members of the Project Construction Committee.

On the side of the Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai - Deputy Director General, Dr. Luu Tien Dat - National Focal Point of AFoCO in Vietnam, staff of the Division of Science, Technology and International Cooperation of the Department of Forestry.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien, representing the University's leadership, thanked the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) for supporting and helping in the project "Establishment of ASEAN-Korea Garden in Vietnam". This is a very important project not only for the university and its students, but also for its partners. This project is part of the university's strategy to build a cultural green space of knowledge and innovation at VNUF. The university will urgently submit project documents to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration and approval and commit to implementing the project well according to the set schedule and quality. The president hopes to continue receiving attention and support from AFoCO in the coming time.

Representative of the Department of Forestry's leadership, Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Deputy Director General of the Forestry Department, also thanked AFoCO, the Korea Forest Service and ASEAN countries for their support and support for the project "Establishment of ASEAN-Korea Garden in Vietnam", which was implemented at VNUF. Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai emphasized that this is a very important and meaningful project not only for the university in particular but also for the entire Forestry sector in general. The Department of Forestry committed to coordinate and accompany the university to successfully implement this project. The construction of the ASEAN-Korea Garden is extremely important, contributing to implementing important policies on Vietnam's Forestry, promoting sustainable forest management associated with biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and minimizing the effects of climate change. The garden will also be a tourist attraction and a symbol of friendship and long-term relationship between ASEAN and Korea, especially between Vietnam and Korea.

On AFoCO's side, Mr. Jin Sunpil - Deputy Director General  shared that the ASEAN-Korea garden project at VNUF will be one of the many past and ongoing ASEAN-Korea garden projects that will also be deployed in Cambodia and Laos. He believed that this project will contribute to improving the quality of green space for the Hanoi capital area; strengthening scientific research, conservation and development of high-value plant species under the influence of climate change; raising awareness about biodiversity conservation through environmental education and ecotourism programs; and strengthening cooperation between Vietnam, Korea and the community of ASEAN countries.            

At the end of the signing ceremony, the two parties held the first technical meeting to agree on the processes of project implementation according to AFoCO regulations and technical issues to soon organize a kick-off meeting to implement the project in the near future, after the project documents are approved by the Government of Vietnam.

Some pictures from the online signing ceremony

AFoCO side 

VNUF side