Closer people-to-people bonds foster China-Vietnam friendship

Since China and Vietnam established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership 15 years ago, people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries have continued to grow stronger.

A closer bond and better understanding between the two peoples has developed due to the increasing popularity of Chinese films and TV series among Vietnamese people, and more Chinese tourists choose Vietnam as their destination.

From January to October this year, Chinese tourists made more than 1.3 million visits to Vietnam. Also, the Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone has started trial operation.

China and Vietnam share similar cultures and enjoy a close people-to-people bond, said Peng Liyuan, spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a visit to the Vietnamese Women's Museum on Tuesday.

Accompanied by Ngo Thi Man, spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Peng said she hopes the two countries can deepen people-to-people exchanges and write more chapters of China-Vietnam friendship.

Enhancing exchanges and mutual learning

When meeting with Vietnamese women representatives, Peng shared her work in promoting the cause of women and children as a UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education.

Collaborating closely with UNESCO over the years, China not only vigorously advances its own women's cause but also makes unremitting efforts to promote global gender equality and women's development.

China ranks at the top in core indicators of maternal and child health among middle- and upper-income countries worldwide. The World Health Organization lists China among the top 10 countries with high performance in maternal and child health globally.

China upholds gender equality and attaches great importance to protecting women's rights, and Vietnam has good experience and many practices in promoting women's progress, improving women's status and protecting women's rights and interests, she said.

Peng called on China and Vietnam to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning to help more women change their life and realize their personal values.

Injecting 'youth power' into China-Vietnam friendship

Peng visited the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, on Wednesday with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong's wife Phan Thi Thanh Tam, and she called on Vietnamese youths to be envoys to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"Language is the bridge of communication," she told the students, encouraging them to learn Chinese and experience China to pass down the cause of China-Vietnam friendship from generation to generation.

The number of Vietnamese students studying in China is increasing year by year. Data from the China Scholarship Council shows that more than 23,000 Vietnamese students studied in China in the academic year of 2022-2023.

Last year, China announced to offer Vietnam over 1,000 Chinese Government Scholarships and more than 1,000 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships, helping Vietnam train high-level talents and Chinese language teachers.

Zheng Dawei, education counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, said over 50 higher education institutions in Vietnam offer Chinese language departments or majors, with 15,000 students studying Chinese at the higher education level.

Expressing her hope that both sides will further strengthen educational exchanges and cooperation, Peng said she welcomes more Vietnamese young people to study in China to enhance mutual understanding and friendship.