Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) and the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS) will co-host the Hanoi Forum 2018, an international academic conference on climate change response and sustainable development, scheduled for November 8-10, 2018 in the Vietnamese capital.

At the signing ceremony

The two sides inked a cooperation agreement on the organisation of the event in Hanoi on July 2. 

Speaking at the signing ceremony, VNU President Nguyen Kim Son said since 2001, the two sides have implemented various cooperation activities, including the dispatch of Vietnamese postgraduates to the Republic of Korea to work with local scholars. 

The upcoming Hanoi Forum is vivid evidence of their cooperation in addressing global issues, Son said, noting that the Vietnamese Government is paying particular attention to sustainable development as the country is one of the five nations worldwide worst affected by climate change. 

The forum is a VNU initiative, aiming at joining global efforts in materialising sustainable development goals through scientific and technological research and knowledge exchange. 

The forum will also look into Vietnam’s socio-economic issues in order to provide policy consultations for the Vietnamese Government, ministries, agencies, and localities, the President said. 

KFAS Director Park In-kook said that aside from financial support, the fund will help the VNU to invite leaders of international organisations and experienced experts and scientists in climate change from many countries around the world to attend the forum. 

The director expressed his hope that through hosting the forum, the VNU will improve its position. 

Themed “Towards sustainable development: climate change response for sustainability and security,” Hanoi Forum 2018 will feature several keynote speakers, panel discussions, and two side events as policy dialogues on natural resource management in the Mekong Delta region and urbanisation in the Red River Delta. Information on keynote and guest speakers will be updated by April 2018.-VNA