Various activities fostering friendship between Vietnamese and Chinese people were held in Hanoi on April 15 on the occasion of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam.
They included a Vietnam-China people’s friendly meeting, the launch of the “Red Journey: Youth’s researches and studies,” the inauguration of a new Vietnam–China railway cooperation mechanism, and a photo exhibition celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The activities brought together Party and State leaders, along with representatives of ministries and localities, and over 350 scholars, students, and youth from both countries.
Party General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong of Vietnam and the Chinese top leader visited the photo exhibition. The leaders then attended the friendship gathering and the launch of the Red Journey, an initiative aimed at strengthening youth exchange and historical awareness.
Speaking at the event, Lam highlighted the importance of the people’s friendly meeting initiative, particularly during this commemorative year. He stressed that over the past 75 years, friendship and cooperation have consistently defined the essence of Vietnam–China relations.
The Party and State of Vietnam, he said, place high priority on strengthening its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China and building a Vietnam-China Community with a shared future that carries strategic signifiance for steadily advancing to a new era, for happiness of both peoples and for global peace and progress.
The leader underscored that one of the most crucial orientations of bilateral cooperation lies in fostering “a stronger social foundation,” with the younger generations of both nations playing a key role. He called upon young people and citizens from both countries to carry forward and further develop the deep-rooted friendship between Vietnam and China - one between comrades and brothers – a legacy forged by President Ho Chi Minh, Chairman Mao Zedong, and other revolutionary leaders.
Lam urged agencies and organisations from both countries to actively collaborate on implementing the Red Journey youth project. He also encouraged young people to innovate, master new technologies, and strengthen solidarity and mutual support – leading the charge in modernisation and industrialisation in each country, and becoming the driving force for the Vietnam–China relations in the new era.
For his part, Xi expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to meet with comrades, scholars, and youth representatives. Reflecting on the contributions of revolutionary leaders of previous generations to the bilateral relationship, he said the strength and vitality of ties between the two Parties and nations lie in the people and their friendship.
The Chinese leader reaffirmed that the building of a China-Vietnam Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance benefits not only the two countries but also regional and global peace, stability, and development. He emphasised that China is ready to work with Vietnam to maintain high-level strategic exchanges and solidify the social foundation. Xi suggested that the two countries take the 2025 Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange as an opportunity for diversifying exchange activities.
He called for stronger people-to-people connections, and better utilisation of the "red heritages" of both revolutions to tell the story of China–Vietnam friendship across generations.
On this occasion, Vietnam and China officially launched the “Red Journey: Youth’s researches and studies” project, which will see Vietnamese and Chinese organisations work together to promote historic revolutionary sites linked to President Ho Chi Minh and other veteran leaders to deepen young people’s understanding of the shared revolutionary past and mutual support between Vietnam and China, and raise their awareness of the traditional friendship and significance of bilateral ties.
In the presence of Party General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and CPC General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, the two sides launched a Vietnam–China railway cooperation mechanism and established a joint railway collaboration committee. This marks a major step forward in rail infrastructure collaboration and reflects the commitment of both Parties and Governments to advancing bilateral partnership in the sector./.
