Korean telecom giant KT has signed a “Strategic Partnership 2.0” agreement with Vietnam’s state-run Viettel Group to accelerate the country’s artificial intelligence transformation and help shape its national AI strategy.

The deal, formalized at KT’s Seoul headquarters by KT CEO Kim Young-shub and Viettel Chairman and CEO Tao Duc Thang, builds on an initial partnership formed in May and sets out concrete joint projects to advance AI across industries.

Under the agreement, KT and Viettel will focus on four key areas: developing Vietnam’s national AI strategy and sector-specific AI transformation (AX) platforms, expanding AX business in Southeast Asia, bolstering AI-based cybersecurity, and nurturing AI talent.

A major component is the creation of a national general-purpose AI language model tailored to Vietnam’s language, culture, and administrative systems, alongside industry-specific AI solutions for defense, media, and healthcare. The companies will also establish a Global AX Innovation Center to lead R&D and train AI specialists, including developing tools to detect and block phishing and deepfake threats in real time.

Kim says the partnership represents “a meaningful collaboration that will help Vietnam secure future growth engines,” while Tao emphasizes that combining the technological strengths of both countries “is expected to drive digital transformation across Vietnam’s industries.”