First Vietnamese scientist wins Vinfuture Prize

Professor Vo Tong Xuan (second from right) receives his award at the Vinfuture Special Prize ceremony on December 20. Photo: Minh Thu/The Hanoi Times

Agricultural specialist Professor Vo Tong Xuan became the first Vietnamese to receive a special award at the Vinfuture Special Prize worth US$500,000 each. Now in its third year, the award ceremony on December 20 honored the professor for developing new rice seeds to increase farming productivity and improve the income and living conditions of people in the Mekong Delta region.

Also at the ceremony, the VinFuture Grand Prize worth US$3 million was awarded to four scientists from Australia, Japan, Morroco, and the US for their initiatives in energy storage. Other scientists were honored for their contributions to renewable energy, climate change response, sustainable agriculture and food security, and health.

Event to strengthen Hanoi, Lam Dong cooperation

An event titled "Hanoi Days in Lam Dong" will be held tomorrow [December 22] at Lam Vien Park in Da Lat City to connect the two local business communities and promote trade, investment and tourism ties between the capital and the central highland province.

The three-day event will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of cooperation between the two localities and the 130th anniversary of Lam Dong Province. There will be an opening night art performance, a business workshop, a trade fair, cultural exchange activities, and visits to popular sites.

Vietnam Talent Awards 2023 names virtual machinery operation app

DKS Automatics Electronic Technology Investment Development Co won the first prize at the Vietnam Talent Awards 2023 on December 20 for its DKS - SINOVA digitalization and simulation app. The app allows students to experience realistic machine operation while ensuring their safety. The app helps companies reduce costs and stimulates students' creativity.

According to the organizer, the awards attracted 156 applications. Of these, 19 were shortlisted for final judging.

Vietnam, Yunnan businesses boost cooperation

Businesses from Vietnam and China's Yunnan Province signed three agreements on December 20 to boost their ties in agriculture and food production. The agreements were signed at the conference on boosting trade and economic cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Yunnan Province in Hanoi.

Yunnan continues to be an important trading partner for Vietnamese provinces and cities, with bilateral trade exceeding US$5 billion in 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the figure dropped to $3.2 billion in 2022.

Vietnam and African Union officially establish diplomatic relations

On December 20, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ethiopia Nguyen Nam Tien presented to African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat a letter of credence from President Vo Van Thuong accrediting him as Vietnam's alternate representative to the AU.

This marked a milestone in officially establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the AU.

Japan welcomes record number of Vietnamese visitors

The number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan after 11 months of 2023 reached 536,800, marking the highest in history, surpassing the record number of more than 495,000 people in 2019.

The year 2023 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam. Japanese authorities are working to waive visa requirements for Vietnamese travelers shortly.

Vietnam urges ceasefire in Gaza

Vietnam has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and demanded the unconditional release of hostages at the United Nations General Assembly's 10th Special Emergency Session on Humanitarian Issues in Gaza.

The representative of Vietnam also announced the decision of the Government of Vietnam to donate US$500,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA) for humanitarian work in Gaza.