Lei Xiaohua, deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies under the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, made the suggestion in an interview granted to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Beijing regarding people-to-people exchanges between the two countries on the occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Lei proposed the media agencies of both countries conduct interviews and collaborate on producing and launching news reports, documentaries, and new media products with their themes around the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 - 2025) and the “Year of Vietnam - China Humanistic Exchange”.

In addition, research institutes should compile special publications to preserve cultural values, he said, taking the books entitled “Guangxi Narrative on China-Vietnam Friendship” and “President Ho Chi Minh and the China-Vietnam Friendship ” as examples. Lei noted that such publications help to boost cultural exchanges and enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples.

According to the expert, as Vietnam and China are neighbours that share similar customs and cultures, their border areas should promote regular activities such as cross-border exchanges, friendly football matches, and tourism festivals to help residents further strengthen their friendship.

The researcher stressed the need for the two countries to strengthen cross-border tourism cooperation, promote mutual support policies, advertise tourism products, develop new models, and boost self-drive tourism between the two countries.

He also emphasised that as the youth are the future and hope of both countries, there should be more forums and opportunities for them to interact and showcase their talents. This could include organising various experiential activities, interactions, and dialogues in ways that align with their interests, to foster the continuation of the friendship between the young generations of the two countries in the new era.

He cited the “Following President Ho Chi Minh’s footsteps” programme as a typical example, as Vietnamese youth will follow in the footsteps of the late Vietnamese leader in Guangxi, and both Vietnamese and Chinese youths will visit the places where he once stayed. This allows them to better understand the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

In addition, both sides can organise many other activities, such as a seminar on Vietnam-China border youth development, a leadership training course for Vietnamese youths, or fact-finding trips to Guangxi for Vietnamese entrepreneurs, added Lei.

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