By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
SK Chairman Chey Tae-won met Thursday with the visiting secretary general of the Vietnamese Community Party to discuss collaboration in the energy, information technology and construction fields.
The meeting came a day after Nong Duc Manh and President Roh Moo-hyun signed a joint declaration to widen bilateral ties and forge complementary relations, among which the IT sector was specifically highlighted.
During Manh's visit to SK Telecom's Access Research Center in Bundang, Chey offered various cooperative plans that would help establish the nation's telecom leader's technology at the Southeast Asian country.
He thanked the Vietnamese government for their support in helping to increase subscribers of the S-Fone service, which started there in 2003 to 3.2 million, and added that 2.5, 3 and 3.5 generation technologies will soon be implemented as well.
Chey also said the U-City project in Hanoi is well under way, co-planned with Vietnam's Ministry of Construction, stressing that the new mini-town will speed up the country's stride toward being high-tech.
With regard to energy cooperation, the chairman said the company will proactively participate with the Vietnamese government and the Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy to sketch out a master plan developing Hanoi's energy, chemical and gas policies.
After touring the SK facility, Manh met with the chairman of Kumho Asiana Group, also to discuss activating bilateral exchange.
Aside from briefing the Vietnamese secretary general on the group's business plans, Chairman Park Sam-koo sought Manh's support for Yeosu's 2012 expo bid.
``We will continue our ongoing investment and public welfare contributions in Vietnam,'' said Park, to which Manh thanked and further encouraged.
``Korea is the biggest investor in Vietnam and I hope Kumho Asiana will be the biggest corporate investor,'' he said.
Vietnam and Korea opened diplomatic ties in 1992 and since then, both have been seeking opportunities to bring mutual economic benefit.