Vietnam - Ukraine Fostering Cooperation

During the official visit by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to Vietnam on November 15 and 16, 2012, the leaders discussed measures to strengthen and promote the traditional friendly relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Ukraine, especially in economy, trade and investment as well as exchange of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

 

Currently, Vietnam and Ukraine have established cooperation in many fields. Particularly, in energy sector, the two sides cooperate in many important projects in Vietnam, including Hoa Binh, Thac Mo and Yaly hydropower plants, and 500 kV transmission lines. The two sides agreed to collaborate in new energy projects like designing, construction and renovation of thermal power plants, hydropower plants and transmission lines previously built with the help of Ukraine and the former Soviet Union. Ukraine helped recondition Thac Ba hydropower plant in a contract worth some US$10 million.

 

Song Da - Ucrin Consulting Engineering Co., Ltd - a member of Song Da Corporation - joined hands with Ukraine to advise designs for some hydropower plants like 180-MW Se San 3A, 360-MW Se San 4, and Nam Chien. The company entered a joint venture with State Foreign Trade Company (UkrInterEnergo) to supply equipment to Thac Mo hydropower plant. To date, Se San 3A and Se San 4 hydropower plants were completely constructed and put into operation.

 

In industry, in 2012, the Institute of Mine Science and Technology affiliated to the Vietnam National Coal, Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) collaborated with the Institute Giproshakt of Ukraine to win design contracts for Khe Cham 24 and Nui Beo coal mines. In the coming time when alumina production starts in Tan Rai bauxite mine, Vinacomin will invite the Ukraine’s Mine Science Institute to send experts to survey mines and discuss potential cooperation in “red mud" treatment.

 

In addition, Asia Star Joint Stock Company is working with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine on transfer of sponge iron and steel billet technologies to manufacture high quality prestressed steel in Vietnam.

In scientific and technological cooperation, the Vietnam National Science, Technique and Technology Centre and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine agreed to set up the High Tech Transfer Centre in Vietnam to transfer Ukrainian technologies like underwater welding technology and biotechnology.

 

In education cooperation, Ukraine and Vietnam grant each other more than 30 scholarships a year. Currently, some 1,400 Vietnamese undergraduates and postgraduates are studying in Ukraine (mostly self-financed) and approximately 25 Ukrainian students are learning at universities in Vietnam. Besides, the Ministry of Education and Training assigned the Vietnam Maritime University as the key partner in cooperation with partner universities of Ukraine to open new training fields that Ukraine is strong at and Vietnam is interested in. In the early stage, the Vietnam Maritime University will study and deploy 2-3 advanced programmes with Ukrainian partners to lay the groundwork for the establishment of Vietnam - Ukraine Maritime Technical Training and Research Institute at the Vietnam Maritime University. The institute is an ally between the Vietnamese university and a group of prestigious Ukrainian universities.

 

The two sides are promoting and encouraging local cooperation. Particularly, Hanoi has forged partnership with Kiev, Ho Chi Minh City with Kharkov, Khanh Hoa with Kharkov, and Hai Phong with Feodosiya. The Ukrainian side expresses the desire to establish a direct relationship between the Autonomous Republic Crimea (an autonomous republic of Ukraine) with a province of Vietnam. The Vietnamese side proposes establishing a direct relationship between Can Tho City and a Ukrainian city.

 

In addition, Vietnam and Ukraine have signed over 20 cooperation agreements in many important areas such as air transport, culture, education, science, investment encouragement and protection, and double tax avoidance. Ukraine gives Vietnam the most favoured nation (MFN) status to seafood supply to Ukraine.

 

According to Mr Duong Hoang Minh, Deputy Director of European Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam - Ukraine Intergovernmental Committee gathered for the 13^th meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on October 1 - 2, 2012 under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Quoc Khanh, and Head of the Antimonopoly Committee, Tsushko V.P. More than 50 representatives from ministries, agencies, professionals and enterprises of the two countries attended the meeting.

 

At the meeting, the committee reviewed the implementation of the Minutes of the 12^th Meeting, assessed achievements in Vietnam - Ukraine bilateral cooperation in the past times, identified subjective and objective causes that affected the bilateral cooperation development, and proposed specific solutions and measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in the future, including the support and facilitation of Vietnamese investment in Ukraine.

 

In the coming time, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in politics, economy, trade, science, technology, culture, sports, tourism, education, training, finance and banking. Cooperation in economy and trade is focused.