Vietnam-China Youth Exchange: Continuing Spirit of Revolutionary Generation
	VUFO Delegation Visits Historical Site in Thai Nguyen

- Could you share some memorable stories, experiences, or impressions from your time working with people from other countries?

Director General of the Asia-Africa Department under the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Tran Thi Xuan Oanh speaks at the Congress of the Asia-Africa Department Party Cell for the 2025-2027 term, on June 9, 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Tran Thi Xuan Oanh: With regard to Laos, one story that moved me deeply was the campaign to jointly build a friendship house as a gift for a woman called Kanchia in Sekong Province. She was the woman who once courageously gave her own milk to save the life of a severely ill Vietnamese volunteer soldier during the resistance war.

On the occasion of the Viet Nam-Laos, Laos-Viet Nam Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2017, the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association launched a donation campaign to build her a house. The initiative received enthusiastic support from many organizations, localities, and Vietnamese enterprises. It was a touching expression of profound gratitude, highly appreciated by the Lao side, who awarded the Association the Order of Friendship in recognition of this effort.

As for Cambodia, one notable initiative is the “Nurturing Friendship” program, which provides sponsorship and support to Cambodian students studying in Viet Nam. The program gives them the chance to practice Vietnamese, experience local life, and learn about Vietnamese culture.

After more than 10 years of implementation, the “Nurturing Friendship” program, initiated by the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Association, has attracted around 700 Cambodian students. Many of them have remained in close contact with their Vietnamese host families even after returning home. Some, after getting married, even invited their Vietnamese sponsors to attend their weddings. This model not only strengthens bonds between students and their host families but also connects the families themselves, nurturing the seeds of friendship between the two nations.

With China, the meaningful activities include those honoring organizations and individuals who contributed to Viet Nam’s struggle for national independence and reunification. In 2024, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Defence, welcomed a delegation of relatives of former Chinese military advisors who had supported Viet Nam during the resistance war against the French. The delegation visited Viet Nam and participated in activities marking the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. Among the members were the youngest son of Senior General Wei Guoqing, and the daughter and grandchildren of General Chen Geng - two generals who had stood side by side with the Vietnamese army and people during the nation’s heroic resistance. The relatives of the former Chinese advisors expressed their delight in witnessing the achievements of Viet Nam’s revolutionary cause and national renewal, as well as the enduring affection that the Vietnamese people continue to show toward the Chinese people.

In September 2025, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations welcomed a Chinese delegation, including two representatives from Nanxishan Hospital - a facility that had once treated wounded soldiers from southern Viet Nam and senior Vietnamese officials during the resistance war against the United States. The delegation visited Viet Nam and attended activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam’s National Day. At the Meeting and Tribute to International Friends, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and President of the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien presented the Order of Friendship to Nanxishan Hospital. In his remarks, Liu Honglin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the hospital, affirmed that the institution had inherited and upheld the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and China, actively serving as a platform and gateway for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, thereby contributing to the continued nurturing of the Viet Nam-China friendship.

Tran Thi Xuan Oanh (tenth from the right, front row) in a group photo with the leaders and staff of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations at the “Viet Nam-China People Friendship Meeting” held on April 15, 2025, in Hanoi. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

- In your view, what is the most important “guideline” in carrying out this work?

Tran Thi Xuan Oanh: In my opinion, it is sincerity, responsibility, mutual understanding, and respect.

We should accompany our Lao friends with enthusiasm and solidarity, pay close attention to sharing and supporting our Cambodian friends, and work with care, professionalism, and harmony with our Chinese counterparts. Flexibility and proactiveness are essential factors in achieving consensus and mutual understanding.

In recent years, many people-to-people diplomacy activities have been successfully organized, leaving strong impressions and contributing to the overall success of high-level visits. We are very honored that within just eight months, we had the opportunity to organize two people-to-people exchange events during the visits of top leaders of both Viet Nam and China, held in both countries. To prepare for these events, we worked closely with our counterparts at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, actively proposing initiatives and jointly sharing in the spirit of joy, cooperation, and understanding. Through this process, we have become more connected and inspired to continue new, emotional journeys that contribute to strengthening and deepening the friendship between the peoples of Viet Nam and China.

Tran Thi Xuan Oanh (far right) at the welcoming ceremony for the delegation of the Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Association, attending the 5th Viet Nam-Cambodia People Friendship and Cooperation Meeting on November 5, 2022. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

- Could you share some successful models, initiatives, or flexible and creative approaches in fostering people-to-people relations with neighboring countries?

Tran Thi Xuan Oanh: From my perspective, at the grassroots level, cultural, artistic, and sports exchanges between the people of Viet Nam’s border provinces and those of Laos, Cambodia, and China are regularly organized. These activities are meaningful and help connect communities on both sides of the border.

Programs that care for international students, such as the “Nurturing Friendship” initiative of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Association, or homestay models organized by the provincial and municipal chapters of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association; meetings and exchanges with Vietnamese students studying in China from different generations; and the “Red journey of youth study and research program” in cooperation with China - all serve as vivid examples of flexible and creative approaches that focus on young people, who are the future custodians and promoters of enduring friendship.

In addition, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Viet Nam Friendship Associations with Laos, Cambodia, and China have also acted as bridges promoting economic, trade, and investment cooperation through seminars, workshops, and business networking events. Recently, during a working visit to Laos, the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association and the Laos-Viet Nam Friendship Association co-organized a Meeting of young entrepreneurs from Viet Nam and Laos. Following this event, the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association conveyed the recommendations of Lao enterprises to relevant Vietnamese agencies.

Moreover, we have been proactive in innovation and in applying modern technology to enhance connectivity and communication efficiency. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Zalo are actively utilized, while online exchange formats are held regularly. We are also digitizing materials related to friendship relations, including documents, photos, and videos of external events, to make them more accessible for archiving, sharing, and promoting through digital media channels.

- Thank you very much!

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