Vietnamese students tour Wuhan, Chongqing in weeklong study camp

A weeklong study camp bringing together nearly 200 young people from China and Vietnam has become a fresh driver of people-to-people exchanges between the two neighbors, deepening mutual understanding at a time when both sides are marking 75 years of diplomatic ties.

From Nov 10 to 17, the delegation traveled through Wuhan, Hubei province, and Chongqing, gaining first-hand exposure to China's technological development, industrial innovation and the growing cooperation linking the two countries.

Organized under the theme "Exploring Revolutionary Footprints, Courageously Undertaking the Mission of the Era", the program was jointly held by the Central Committees of the Communist Youth Leagues of China and Vietnam. Participants were selected from five major universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

China and Vietnam have longstanding historical ties, having supported each other in struggles for national independence. China was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in early 1950s.

As the two nations celebrate the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, new opportunities arise for building a shared future for the youngsters.

During the tour in Wuhan's Dongfeng Motor Global Innovation Center, Nguyen Quang Thang, a student at the University of Languages and International Studies of Vietnam National University, said of China's automotive prowess, "Chips are the 'brains' of a car, and Dongfeng's ability to develop them independently demonstrates the true strength of China's automotive industry."

Fan Shaoyang from China Dongfeng Motor Industry Import and Export Co's overseas division highlighted the company's impact in Vietnam. Over the past 20 years, Dongfeng has served more than 100,000 Vietnamese customers in the heavy and medium commercial vehicles sector, earning a reputation as a trusted brand through a comprehensive after-sales service network.

The delegation continued its tour in Chongqing from Nov 13, visiting high-tech automotive facilities including Chang'an's Global R&D Center, its digital intelligence factory, and the Seres Super Factory.

Nguyen Thi Lien Anh, a senior majoring in Chinese, said she was struck by China's transport infrastructure, particularly the high-speed rail network. The trip, she added, strengthened her interest in pursuing postgraduate studies in China.

"At a China-foreign cultural exchange festival held at my university a couple of weeks ago, a Vietnamese overseas student offered me a spring roll. The combination of shrimp and fish sauce, along with the broad smile, gave me a better understanding of the deep bond between China and Vietnam," said Wang Xinyu, a student from the School of Global Journalism and Communication at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, who shared his experience of taking part in a China-Vietnam youth speech event on Nov 14.

Institutions such as the China-ASEAN Legal Research Center, and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Rural Revitalization Research Center at Southwest University are also helping to facilitate academic exchanges, with young people increasingly at the center of regional cooperation.

Bui Nguyen Long, consul general of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing, remarked on the significance of these exchanges during the youth speech event on Nov 14. "Through this study camp, Vietnamese youth gained a deeper understanding of the national traditions of both countries and the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance," he said.

The newly established consulate, with Long as its first consul general, marks a milestone in bilateral ties. "Chongqing holds a special place in Vietnam-China relations," the consul general said.

Since 2019, bilateral trade between Chongqing and Vietnam has surged. In November last year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led a delegation to Chongqing and seven memorandums of cooperation between enterprises in Chongqing and Vietnam were signed, covering sectors including economy, trade, logistics, energy, agriculture and telecommunications.

From January to August, their import and export volume reached 30.52 billion yuan ($4.29 billion), a 24 percent increase year-on-year. The number of Vietnamese visitors to Chongqing reached 23,100, a 44.9 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to data from authorities.

On the night of Nov 15, a dazzling drone light show paying tribute to the youngsters from both countries, lit up the night sky of the municipality.

In Wuhan, the Vietnamese youth attended a lecture on "Ho Chi Minh in China" and visited Red historical sites, deepening their understanding of the revolutionary friendship between the two countries.

Since May, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China has organized four sessions of the Red Study Tour for Vietnamese Youth in China, held in Beijing, Shanghai and the provinces of Guangdong, Yunnan and Shaanxi, and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Contact the writers at dengrui@chinadaily.com.cn