Vietnam News Highlights for June 8, 2023

First Vietnamese scores 9 in four IELTS skills

Luyen Quang Kien, a 31-year-old man in Hanoi, has become the first Vietnamese to score a 9 in all four skills on the IELTS English language proficiency test.

Kien took the test on June 3, and it was his sixth IELTS test this year. He took his first IELTS test in 2014 with an overall score of 7.5. Kien is an English teacher and, since 2018, has taken five to seven tests each year to test his skills and teaching methods. He plans to write a book on how to get a band 9 score on the exam.

FPT Play to stream Vietnamese national matches

The Vietnamese men's national football team. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times

Internet video streaming service FPT Play partnered with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on June 7 to broadcast live all matches of the men's national football teams from 2023 to 2027. The matches, including friendlies and internationals of teams of all ages, will be available on FPT Play's online streaming platforms.

The first matches to go live on FPT Play's platforms are Vietnam's two friendlies against Hong Kong (China) and Syria, scheduled for June 15 and 20.

Kazakh President makes first visit to Vietnam

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will visit Vietnam from June 11-13, marking his first visit since taking office in 2019. The visit aims to strengthen the positive and developing friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Since the signing of a free trade agreement in 2015, two-way trade has increased by 28% annually.

Kazakhstan is Vietnam's second-largest trading partner in the Eurasian Economic Union. The two countries have also signed agreements on culture, sports, and potential cooperation in tourism. Kazakhstan currently has five foreign direct investment projects in Vietnam.

Ministry of Transport to complete key regional railway project in 2030

Construction of the 131-kilometer railway linking Hanoi's Yen Vien Station in Gia Lam District to the Cai Lan deep-sea port in the northern province of Quang Ninh will be completed in 2030, Transport Minister Nguyen Van Thang said on June 7. The ministry is drawing up a project plan for 2026-2030.

Work on the railroad project began in 2005 with a total investment of VND7.66 trillion (US$326 million), but was halted in 2011 due to the global economic recession. Divided into four components, only the section between Ha Long and Cai Lan Port is operational, while the others have made little progress.

Vietnam joins BIO International Convention 2023

A delegation from the Ministry of Health, led by Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen, attended the BIO International Convention 2023 in Boston, USA. The four-day event, which ended on June 8 and attracted 23,000 delegates from 65 countries and territories, focuses on innovation and collaboration in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Tuyen highlighted Vietnam's policies and incentives to promote the development of the domestic biotech industry and emphasized the importance of legal frameworks to facilitate business activities. The conference provides an opportunity for Vietnamese companies and Government officials to network with international partners and gain insights into the latest trends in biotech and pharma.

Opportunities for Vietnam-Pakistan trade and investment collaboration

Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade and Pakistan's Board of Investment discussed ways to expand economic ties between the two countries, highlighting the potential for investment and trade at talks in Hanoi on June 7.

Vietnam considers Pakistan an important economic partner in the South Asian market. Pakistan praised Vietnam's success in attracting foreign investment and developing international trade and suggested further cooperation in services and skilled labor. The two sides will continue discussions at the 5th meeting of the Vietnam-Pakistan Joint Committee in late 2023.

Building a Vietnam-South Korea business network

The CICON 2023 conference, focusing on creative cities, culture, convergence, and industry, was held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 7, offering business opportunities for Vietnam and South Korea in the smart city and blockchain industries.

Kwon Young Gull, Chairman of the National Architectural Policy Committee of South Korea, welcomed Vietnam's sustainable growth, young population, and high potential for industrial and high-tech development. He suggested South Korea is willing to share experiences with Vietnam in designing and implementing smart city models. The conference aimed to build a network of businesses from both countries.