Promoting close ties between journalism and scientific research in the new context: The World and Vietnam Report

Attending the program, from The World and Vietnam Report were Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Editors-in-Chief Vu Quang Tung and Hoang Diem Hanh, Assistant to Editor-in Chief Ho Thi Van, content department heads, and reporters.

From the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, there were Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director; Dr. Phan Cao Nhat Anh, Deputy Director; Dr. Kieu Thanh Nga, Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Asia-Africa Research Journal; Associate Professor Dr. Đinh Cong Hoang, Head of the Middle East and West Asia Research Department; Dr. Tran Thuy Phuong, Head of the African Research Department; Master Pham Thi Kim Hue, Deputy Head of the Middle East and West Asia Research Department, along with staff and researchers.

Strategic collaboration

Dr. Phan Cao Nhat Anh, Deputy Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, delivers the opening speech. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

In his opening speech, Dr. Phan Cao Nhat Anh, Deputy Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, emphasized that in recent times, the Institute and The World and Vietnam Report have engaged in many practical and effective collaborative activities. Reporters from the newspaper regularly attend the Institute's events, assisting in disseminating and promoting the Institute's research findings to the public. Notably, the recent Asia-Africa International Forum 2025 was widely publicized thanks to the timely bilingual reports from the newspaper. He highly appreciated the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' media agency in spreading the Institute's research on South Asia, West Asia, and Africa - regions of increasing geopolitical and geostrategic importance, thereby enhancing the status of social sciences in life.

Dr. Phan Cao Nhat Anh also provided information and analysis on the international context and emerging issues from the Middle East, Gaza Strip, Iran to Africa, and recent developments in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal. The Deputy Director noted that South Asia, West Asia, and Africa are strategic regions with numerous global issues. Therefore, the Institute has the task of conducting in-depth research to provide crucial information, advice, and references for policy formulation.

Deputy Director Phan Cao Nhat Anh believes that in the current context, collaboration between media agencies and research institutions is crucial, and the trend of linking research and media is becoming increasingly evident worldwide. In Vietnam, this connection is also becoming tighter, helping research projects gain practical value while providing the media with diverse, in-depth analyses to make accurate assessments, serving foreign affairs and policy-making. The expert also hopes that through exchanges like today, both parties will gain more multidimensional perspectives, contributing to promoting cooperation between research and media in the future.

Editor-in-Chief of The World and Vietnam Report Nguyen Truong Son believes that through close cooperation, both units will leverage their strengths. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Agreeing with the Deputy Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Editor-in-Chief of The World and Vietnam Report, expressed his pleasure at the official meeting between the two agencies, considering it as a valuable opportunity to establish long-term and substantive cooperation.

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Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Truong Son shared that the relationship between the two parties started many years ago, including initial exchanges related to the Halal industry. He noted that Halal is a prime example of the need for close ties between media and research. To introduce and explain a concept as familiar yet complex as Halal to the public and businesses, a combination of academic research and the media's outreach capabilities is required. This is not only true for Halal but also for larger issues related to international integration, security, defense, and sustainable development of the country.

The Editor-in-Chief hopes that the MOU signed by both parties is just the beginning and should not remain merely formal. There need to be specific, practical collaborations to exploit each other's potential and strengths, especially in research and communication about strategic regions like South Asia, West Asia, and Africa - home to over 3 billion people, with many potentials but also challenges in accessing and implementing practical cooperation. Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Truong Son expects that by concretizing cooperation through today's MOU signing, the two agencies will leverage their strengths, work more closely to fulfill their political tasks, and effectively serve the country's foreign affairs.

Untapped potential

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Dinh Cong Hoang emphasizes the urgent need to develop a national Halal industry strategy. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Dinh Cong Hoang, Head of the Middle East and West Asia Research Department, stated that Africa, South Asia, and West Asia are vast research areas with over 70 countries, rich in development potential and strategic significance in terms of economy, politics, culture, and society. Recently, the Middle East and West Asia Research Department has conducted many in-depth projects and seminars, notably on the Halal economy. These activities have moved beyond theoretical levels, gradually entering practical implementation with the participation of businesses, localities, and various ministries.

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Dinh Cong Hoang also stressed the need to boost the development of the national Halal industry, removing bottlenecks to pave the way for Vietnamese goods to penetrate the vast Halal markets in this highly potential region. Besides Halal, he noted that the Middle East-West Asia region holds special geopolitical significance, with developments having direct or indirect impacts on the world and Vietnam. Research on this region can contribute to rapid responses to global issues, while supporting Vietnam's foreign affairs, trade promotion, and investment.

Dr. Kieu Thanh Nga, Deputy Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, proposes enhanced information exchange between the two parties. (Photo: Quang Hoà)

For her part, Dr. Kieu Thanh Nga, Deputy Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, particularly appreciated the significance of the meeting between the "three forces": researchers, diplomats, and journalists. According to her, this collaboration will create a synergistic effect, helping research projects to be more closely linked with the practical implementation of policies, while expanding social influence.

Regarding specific cooperation content, Dr. Kieu Thanh Nga proposed that the two parties could enhance information exchange: The Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, with its research strengths, can provide in-depth resources for The World and Vietnam Report, while the newspaper can assist the Institute in accessing practical information. Additionally, joint participation in research and survey missions abroad will yield practical benefits, helping both parties share resources and supplement the most comprehensive perspectives.

The Editor-in-Chief of the Asia-Africa Research Journal shared that the Journal primarily publishes in-depth academic research but its dissemination scope is limited. Dr. Kieu Thanh Nga hopes to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' newspaper to produce modern, attractive, and effective journalistic products, aiming to enhance the quality of academic communication, bringing research results closer to readers both domestically and internationally.

Dr. Tran Thuy Phuong, Head of the African Research Department hopes that after today's meeting, more joint projects will be published and disseminated. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Dr. Tran Thuy Phuong, Head of the African Research Department, noted that Africa is a vast region, conducive to research yet presenting many challenges. In recent years, the African Research Department has implemented several notable research projects, along with ministry-level topics clarifying innovation and development policies in North African countries. Dr. Tran Thuy Phuong shared that the Department's research orientation will continue to adhere to the general direction of the Academy and the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, including content related to the strategic resolutions of the Party and State. Specifically, regarding Vietnam's investment in South Asia and Africa, the Department is conducting research to clarify the potential and challenges in economic cooperation.

The researcher hopes that in the future, both parties will continue to cooperate closely to produce collaborative products that are both academic and have media impact. This will enhance connectivity, cooperation, and contribute to understanding Africa as well as the common interests of both agencies and the country.

Master Pham Thi Kim Hue, Deputy Head of the Middle East and West Asia Research Department, believes that the media plays a crucial role in communication, raising social awareness, and spreading practical experiences from businesses and localities in the process of transitioning to Halal standards. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

In her speech, Master Pham Thi Kim Hue, Deputy Head of the Middle East and West Asia Research Department, highly appreciated the effective cooperation of The World and Vietnam Report, emphasizing that the newspaper's interest and companionship have created an open exchange space, sparking many new ideas for both parties. She believes that the media plays a crucial role in communication, raising social awareness, and spreading practical experiences from businesses and localities in the process of transitioning to Halal standards.

Additionally, the Deputy Head of the Middle East and West Asia Research Department mentioned the importance of South-South cooperation and trilateral cooperation, considering it a highlight in Vietnam's international relations, especially with African countries. In the future, the two parties can coordinate to implement joint columns or projects with South Asian, West Asian, and African countries in potential fields such as agriculture, energy security, and education.

Furthermore, affirming education as a promising area of cooperation, Master Pham Thi Kim Hue pointed out that currently, many African students express a desire to study in Vietnam, which is also an opportunity to enhance the international standing of Vietnamese universities, while creating "people's ambassadors" to connect bilateral relations. According to her, the development of educational cooperation, combined with media and research, will open new spaces for Vietnam's international cooperation.

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, appreciates the organization of the thematic session and MOU signing. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies, appreciated the organization of this meaningful thematic session and MOU signing. Assoc.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung shared that this plan had been discussed and nurtured by both parties for a long time, and he believes that successful implementation should not stop at the "signing ceremony" but more importantly, should turn the cooperation agreement into concrete actions, avoiding leaving the document "on paper".

The Institute and the newspaper share many commonalities in their activities, but also possess unique strengths to complement each other: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press agency has advantages in information and quick response, while the Institute has depth in social science research, long-term trend analysis, and comparison.

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung believes that cooperation will help spread research products more widely, especially foundational topics often overlooked due to their small scale. Through the media, research results can be synthesized and summarized into thematic reports, contributing practically to society. He also proposed a regular coordination mechanism, in which the Institute's research departments send situation reports for the newspaper to exploit, thereby creating an additional channel for disseminating scientific knowledge.

Connecting journalism and science

Assistant to Editor-in Chief of The World and Vietnam Report Ho Thi Van emphasizes that a lack of understanding or incomplete understanding will hinder international cooperation. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

From The World and Vietnam Report, Ms. Ho Thi Van, Assistant to Editor-in Chief, also appreciated the insightful opinions shared at the thematic session, especially regarding the situation in South Asia, West Asia, and Africa - current strategic hotspots in the world.

From her practical experience while working in India, she noted that international media and journalism often tend to emphasize negative aspects, while the positive values and cultural-social beauty of these countries are less disseminated. Therefore, according to the Assistant to Editor-in Chief, journalism and research have a shared responsibility to enhance communication effectiveness, helping businesses, people, and even management agencies gain a more comprehensive view of these regions.

Emphasizing that a lack of understanding or incomplete understanding will hinder international cooperation, Ms. Ho Thi Van affirmed that closer ties between research and journalism are crucial. If well implemented, it will contribute to promoting accurate awareness, strengthening trust, thereby expanding cooperation between Vietnam and South Asian, West Asian, and African countries, not only at the government level but also within the business community and society.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The World and Vietnam Report Hoang Diem Hanh proposes establishing a regular coordination mechanism between the two agencies, such as sharing thematic reports and research data to serve information and analysis work. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The World and Vietnam Report Hoang Diem Hanh emphasized that organizing the thematic session combined with MOU signing is a meaningful initiative, opening up academic exchange space and new motivation for the two agencies. According to the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, although both the newspaper and the Institute operate in the "writing" field, each has its strengths. This difference is an important foundation for the two parties to complement each other, creating a synergistic effect.

Ms. Hoang Diem Hanh particularly emphasized that signing the memorandum of understanding is just the beginning, "the important thing is to turn the agreement into concrete actions". One feasible direction is to leverage the media's strengths to spread research results, especially foundational topics of small scale. If synthesized, summarized, and disseminated as thematic reports, these research products can become valuable resources for society. The Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The World and Vietnam Report also proposed establishing a regular coordination mechanism between the two agencies, such as sharing thematic reports and research data to serve information and analysis work.

Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Truong Son and Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies Nguyen Xuan Trung sign the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two parties. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

The cooperation agreement between the two units not only enhances the effectiveness of external information work but also facilitates academic dialogue. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Within the program's framework, The World and Vietnam Report and the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on bilateral cooperation. The cooperation agreement not only enhances the effectiveness of external information work but also facilitates academic dialogue, contributing to deepening relations between Vietnam and countries in the region, while opening up opportunities for closer connections between scientific research and external journalism, aiming to spread knowledge, enhance Vietnam's academic and international media status.

The two units take a commemorative photo. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Truong Son introduces The World and Vietnam Report's publication to Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian, and African Studies Nguyen Xuan Trung. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

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