BEIJING, October 12. Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man met a delegation of Chinese friendship figures led by Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, in Beijing. The meeting took place during his official visit to China.
The Vietnamese NA leader thanked the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China-Vietnam Friendship Association and Chinese friendship figures for their deep affection for Vietnam and their long contribution to Vietnam-China relations.
He said bilateral relations were at their best level in decades and were developing comprehensively and deeply. New opportunities were emerging to make the ties stronger, more substantive and more sustainable, he said. People-to-people diplomacy remained an important foundation of the relationship.
The NA chairman reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent focus on people-to-people diplomacy and praised the special role of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Vietnam Friendship Association. The organisations connect generations, localities, social organisations, scholars, cultural circles, businesses, young people and people from both countries.
As Vietnam and China enter a new stage of development, Man expressed hope that the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China-Vietnam Friendship Association and Vietnamese friendship organisations would continue to connect people, preserve and pass on the traditional friendship, and deepen it.
He called on friendship organisations on both sides to promote the effective implementation of programmes such as the Red Journey for Vietnamese youth to study and learn about China, the Vietnam-China People's Forum and the Vietnam-China Border People's Friendship Festival.
He said particular attention should be paid to youth exchanges so younger generations could gain a full, deep and objective understanding of the traditional relationship between the two Parties and countries, as well as the strong bonds built by previous generations. This should encourage them to cherish the values of peace, friendship and cooperation.
He suggested linking people-to-people exchanges with tangible benefits for citizens of both countries, stressing that friendship should be expressed through concrete results that people can see and experience.
Man said the 2026 and 2027 Vietnam-China Years of Tourism Cooperation offered many opportunities to promote people-to-people exchanges. He called on friendship organisations to work with relevant agencies, localities and businesses in both countries to organise more cultural and tourism activities and local-level exchanges. He suggested stronger links between heritage sites, historical landmarks and friendship tourism routes to advance practical cooperation and bring tangible benefits to people.
He also expressed hope that friendship organisations, researchers, media agencies, artists and social influencers in both countries would step up exchanges and provide accurate, objective information, sharing more positive stories about the countries, their people and Vietnam-China cooperation.
Noting that the leaders of the two Parties and countries consistently attach importance to people-to-people exchanges and regularly discuss their role in the sound and stable development of bilateral relations, Man called on friendship figures to continue safeguarding traditional friendship, strengthening ties between the two peoples and opening new avenues for cooperation. He said this would help Vietnam-China relations develop in a stable, sustainable, long-term and effective manner.
Yang Wanming, for his part, described the meeting as evidence of the Vietnamese Party and State's deep regard for China-Vietnam friendship.
He highlighted the special bonds of comradeship and brotherhood between successive generations of leaders of the two Parties and countries, saying these ties were a valuable asset that should be preserved and promoted.
Yang affirmed that the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries would continue to follow important common understandings reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and countries, strengthen the social foundations of China-Vietnam relations, build bridges for people-to-people exchanges, promote cooperation and cultural exchanges, and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. These efforts, he said, would help build broad consensus and contribute to the continued development of China-Vietnam relations.
Source: VNA/VNS.
Sources: Viet Nam News
