Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam Kong Xuan You

(VNS)Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam Kong Xuan You addresses the readers of Viet Nam News on the occasion of China's National Day today.Viet Nam and China are neighbours who share many kilometres of mountains and rivers and enjoy an age-long cross-cultural tradition.

These are solid foundations for the two nations to develop their cultures.

In recent years – parallel with comprehensive strategic development–cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries have been promoted, both in quality and quantity. They have gained many significant successes.

Vietnamese and Chinese cultural management agencies have maintained close and regular contact and Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh has visited China three years in a row since 2009. In 2010, Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu visited Viet Nam.

Also, the implementation of the Sino-Viet Nam Culture Agreement for 2010-2012 has been going well, at present the two sides are actively preparing for the signing of a further co-operation plan. With active support and strong co-operation from the two governments, cultural exchanges between Vietnamese and Chinese organisations and localities, particularly border provinces and cities, have been promoted. Exchanges of art troupes and exhibitions between the two countries also have become annual events with very rich and diverse contents. In the field of sport, China sends experts each year to help train Vietnamese athletes while receiving many Vietnamese sport experts in China to improve their skills. The two countries are also overseas tourist destination of each other. Since 1996, China has produced the highest number of visitors to Viet Nam, with 1 million a year on average. In the first eight months of 2012 the number reached 900,000.

 

Imposing: The Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest set of preserved wooden structures in the world. —Photo courtesy Chinese Embassy

Having a high regard for education is a fine tradition of the Chinese and Vietnamese people. As an important field of cultural exchanges, with the direct care by the leaders of both countries and joint efforts of both sides, notable progress in educational co-operation between the two nations has been recorded. Especially during the visit to China by Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of Communist Party of Viet Nam, the two countries signed a new co-operation agreement on education, which injected new vitalities for the educational exchange between the two nations in the new period. About 16,000 students from Viet Nam are now studying in China, ranking it No.4, while the number of Chinese studying in Viet Nam is increasing year on year to about 3,000 at present. Many Vietnamese teachers of Chinese language have been trained in China and many Chinese teachers have volunteered to teach Chinese in Viet Nam.

In addition, many education expos and scientific workshops have been organised to consolidate educational ties between the two sides.

As the ancient Chinese saying goes, "Amity between people holds the key to sound relations between states". The strong development of culture exchange is a bridge that strengthens bonds, cultivates mutual understanding and consolidates the traditional friendship between the two nations. This is a solid foundation for the development of the comprehensive strategic co-operation relationship between China and Viet Nam. The Chinese Embassy in Viet Nam pledges to be a companion of the Vietnamese side on its journey and to continue to promote exchange activities to take our comprehensive relationship to a higher plane.

On this occasion, allow me to express our sincere thanks to the Vietnam News Agency for what it has done to promote mutual understanding between the two nations. I would also like to take the opportunity to send our greetings and best wishes to your readers. — VNS