Vietnam News Highlights for May 13, 2023

Vietnam is Cuba's second largest trading partner

ViMariel S.A., a subsidiary of Vietnam’s Viglacera in Cuba, becomes the first 100% foreign-invested infrastructure company in Cuba. Photo: Viglacera

Vietnam is Cuba's 2nd largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$250-350 million in 2015-2020, said Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee, on May 12. There are now five Vietnamese-funded projects in the Latin American country. Among them, Viglacera has built a construction materials factory and developed an industrial park in the Mariel Special Development Zone. In return, Cuba established a biological company in Vietnam.

According to Cuba's Deputy Minister of Agriculture Maury Hechavarria Bermudez, the two governments will look for ways to deepen and strengthen economic ties between Vietnam and Cuba, with Vietnamese enterprises being ready to produce food and animal feed.

Two grandmasters to compete in chess world cup

Vietnamese grandmasters Vo Thi Kim Phung and Le Tuan Minh on May 12 made their way to the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023’s qualification rounds. Woman grandmaster Phung won the Asia Zone-3.3 Chess Championship 2023 with a 0.5 point lead over her opponent. Meanwhile, Minh finished second in the men's competition with six points after nine games.

The two grandmasters will participate in the qualification for the FIDE Chess World Championship 2023. Azerbaijan's capital Baku will host the tournament in August 2023.

Vietnam asks TikTok to reveal content recommendation algorithm

The Ministry of Information and Communications will ask short-video streaming platform TikTok to reveal the algorithm that suggests content to users based on their interactions. Local authorities will launch an inspection on TikTok operation in Vietnam as the business has allegedly allowed false information and harmful content to spread online, and illegally researched and stored users' personal data.

Since the launch of its Vietnam operation in April 2019, TikTok has attracted nearly 50 million Vietnamese users. The country is TikTok's largest market in Southeast Asia and its 6th largest market globally.

Two new highway projects to open next week

The transport ministry will open two stretches of the North-South Expressway East on May 19.  The opening ceremony for the 49-kilometer section linking Nha Trang and Cam Lam will be held in Cam Hiep Nam Commune, Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province. The other, connecting Vinh Hao to Phat Thiet over a distance of 100.8 kilometers, will be held in Vinh Hao Commune, Tuy Phong District, Binh Thuan Province. The two projects have a total investment of VND16.3 trillion (US$694.8 million).

Nearly 80 individuals prosecuted for drug transport

The HCM City Police Department has prosecuted 78 individuals for their involvement in smuggling drugs into Vietnam, local media reported on May 12. The investigation was launched after four flight attendants were caught transporting drugs wrapped in toothpaste from France to Vietnam at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in mid-March.

The drugs are stuffed in different small items such as toothpaste tubes and delivered to local dealers in Vietnam. Since the investigation was initiated, the police have seized a total of nearly 50 kilograms of drugs, two guns, and other evidence.

Japan, Iraq cautious ahead of matches with Vietnam

Japan and Iraq's coaches will not take Vietnam lightly after the group draw for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2023. Vietnam was drawn into Group D alongside Japan, Iraq and Indonesia on May 11.

The two coaches told the media that Group D will be tough and challenging as all teams have an equal chance to advance to the next stage. Vietnam will face Japan on January 14, while Indonesia and Iraq will play on January 19 and 24, respectively.