Saudi Arabia Wants to Enhance Cooperation with Arabic Language Training Institutions of Vietnam

Saudi Arabia wants to strengthen cooperation with Arabic language training institutions in Vietnam

Hannah Nguyen

ngminhphuong26@gmail.com December 17, 2022 | 16:24

The University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi and the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 16 to celebrate the World Arabic Language Day (December 18), VNA reported.

A contest of eloquence in Arabic and an exhibition on the Arabic culture were also organized.

ULIS Rector Do Tuan Minh and Ambassador of Saudi Arabia signed the embassy's sponsorship to the project of making the first Arabic-Vietnamese dictionary in Vietnam. Photo: VNT

ULIS Rector Do Tuan Minh and Ambassador of Saudi Arabia sign the embassy's sponsorship to the project of making the first Arabic-Vietnamese dictionary in Vietnam. Photo: VNT

Speaking at the event, ULIS Rector Dr. Do Tuan Minh said that language is a means of communication between peoples, exchanges between cultures, and is a bridge for integration and cooperation between nations.

Known as one of the six languages spoken in the United Nations, Arabic is the language of the Koran and the official language of 25 countries and is spoken by more than 500 million people around the world.

The UNESCO’s designation of December 18 as the World Arabic Language Day in 2012 is the recognition of the role of the Arabic language in the formation and development of human culture, he said.

According to the rector, ULIS has taught the Arabic language since 1996. Over the years, the school has made significant contributions to the training of high-quality human resources in the Arabic language industry, as well as the introduction of Arabic culture in Vietnam.

Since 2016, ULIS has also decided to make December 18 an annual celebration at the university, with the hope that this will be an opportunity for all lecturers, students and all lovers, choose to study Arabic to meet, exchange, learn, thereby improving understanding of this rich language and culture.

"This year's event is an opportunity to introduce and promote Saudi Arabia's country and culture as well as the Arabic-speaking community in general," emphasized Rector Do Tuan Minh.

Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy speaks at the event. Photo: VNT

In his speech, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy expressed his wish to enhance cooperation with Arabic language training establishments in Vietnam, especially ULIS – the first educational establishment in Vietnam to teach Arabic.

He was also delighted to announce the embassy’s aid to the ULIS’s Faculty of Arabic Culture and Language to compile and print the first Arabic-Vietnamese dictionary to serve students, teachers and Vietnamese people living and working in Arabian countries.

The embassy is also pleased to cooperate with the university to launch the first Arabic speaking contest in Vietnam to help students improve their language ability and other skills. This event is the first step for the cooperation between the two sides and will see more and more different forms of cooperation and support in education in the coming period.

The ceremony and the contest provided lecturers, students and Vietnamese people with a chance to understand more about the Arabic culture in general as well as the country and culture of Saudi Arabia, the biggest economy in the Middle East. Photo: VNT

After the celebration was the final round of the "ULIS ARABIC CUP 2022" competition with six teams. In the end, the first prize went to the group of students consisted of Dang Thi Diem Quynh - Dinh Quynh Trang - Le Thi Thao Van with the project "Green Saudi project - Future prospects".