6th Forum of University Presidents in the Red River Basin: Promoting Scientific and Technological Cooperation and Cultural Exchange between Vietnam and China

The forum, held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi on December 8, 2025, was attended by representatives from 23 higher education institutions from both China and Vietnam.

The period 2024-2025 marks a transformative shift in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and China. Shaped by the Joint Statement and the atmosphere leading up to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1950-2025), cooperation in higher education has transcended traditional cultural exchanges to become a pillar of diplomacy and a substantial economic driving force. In particular, the declaration by both countries of 2025 as the "Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange Year" and the commitment to building a "Community of Shared Future" have created an urgent need to upgrade the scale and quality of cooperation in training.

In this context, the 6th Forum of Rectors of Universities in the Red River Basin is not just an annual event but has become a key platform for concretizing state-level commitments. Member universities no longer operate independently but have linked up in two specialized subcommittees (Social Sciences & Humanities and STEM), shifting significantly from superficial exchange activities to projects training high-quality human resources directly serving the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor.

University leaders attend the 6th Forum of University Presidents of the Red River Basin.

Over the past period, member universities of the Forum have organized many collaborative activities in various fields. In the field of Social Sciences and Humanities, there has been a fundamental qualitative change among universities over the past two years, shifting from a purely language-based training model to interdisciplinary training and providing scientific arguments for policy planning.

A highlight of this picture is the sustained growth and development of Vietnamese language training at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-USSH). The university consistently maintains its position as a leading and trusted institution for students from Yunnan Province. Statistics show stable growth: while the university received 131 students in the 2023-2024 academic year, this number increased to 140 in the 2024-2025 academic year. Honghe Academy consistently leads in the number of students sent (increasing from 60 to 90), followed by traditional partner universities such as Yunnan University of Finance and Economics and Yunnan Nationalities University. Notably, 2025 will see the participation of new students from Yunnan University, demonstrating the university's growing reputation for training. Beyond the university level, the cooperation has extended to in-depth research with the acceptance of 4 doctoral students, 2 research interns, and 8 master's students, creating a vibrant Vietnamese-Chinese academic community right here in Hanoi.

Chinese universities are also revolutionizing language training to address the problem of "proficient in language but weak in professional skills." Yunnan University pioneered the implementation of the "One, Two, Three-in-One" master's program model in 2024. This model closely integrates academic language research and practical teaching skills, enabling 42 of the university's master's graduates to pass rigorous examinations and undertake internships abroad with an impressive employment rate of over 95%. Similarly, Yunnan Normal University has affirmed its position by becoming the first international doctoral program in Chinese language education in the region, opening up opportunities to improve the skills of Vietnamese Chinese language lecturers.

Besides training, the role of universities as "think tanks" is also clearly demonstrated. Kunming University, through its Free Trade Research Institute, has closely linked research activities with the practical realities of border trade. By 2025, this institution had published 43 policy advisory reports, many of which proposed improvements to railway connectivity and e-commerce, attracting attention from leaders at various levels. The implementation of "Vietnamese Language + E-commerce" training programs and the proposal for a mechanism to support Vietnamese students starting businesses in the Yunnan Free Trade Zone are vivid examples of an educational mindset serving the economic development of border regions.

In the fields of natural sciences and technology (STEM), member universities have leveraged their specialized strengths to establish highly practical training and research partnerships.

Professor Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, delivered the opening remarks at the Forum.

In the field of agriculture and forestry, Southwest Forestry University and Vietnam Forestry University have elevated their cooperation to a strategic level with the inauguration of the “National Biomass International Research Cooperation Center - Vietnam Center” in 2025. Short-term training programs (3-6 months) offered by Southwest Forestry University to Vietnamese students, as well as the deployment of experts to Vietnam to provide technical support for macadamia cultivation and medicinal plant research, demonstrate a shift from theoretical training to the transfer of sustainable farming techniques, directly benefiting farmers and the forestry sectors of both countries.

The forum welcomed two new members from Vietnam.

In the engineering and industrial sectors, Kunming University of Technology and Wenshan Academy are playing a leading role in training human resources for key industries. Kunming University of Technology focuses on the "Great Color" (non-ferrous metallurgy) and "Great Biology" (biomedical science) strategies, attracting talented Vietnamese students through specialized scholarships in new materials and AI. Meanwhile, Wenshan Academy takes a more pragmatic approach, closely linked to local characteristics such as the aluminum industry and the medicinal herb Panax notoginseng. Training practical engineers for smart aluminum plants or advanced processing of medicinal herbs prepares the workforce for collaborative mining and high-tech agricultural projects being implemented in the Ha Giang - Wenshan border region.

Building on the success of previous editions, the 6th Forum continues to affirm its role as a prestigious academic space, promoting higher education connections between Vietnam and China.

The main activities of the 6th Forum will focus on summarizing the cooperation period of 2024–2025; strengthening trust and promoting more frequent exchanges of students, faculty, and staff; expanding the membership network; and discussing cooperation directions for 2026–2027. The new term (2026–2027) will be chaired by Wenshan University (China), leading the cooperation among the Forum's member universities.

The exhibition and educational exchange activities between universities in the Red River Delta attracted the attention of Vietnamese and Chinese students .

The highlight of the program is the exhibition and educational exchange activities of universities in the Red River Delta, held on the campus of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, showcasing the academic spaces of nearly 30 universities from Vietnam and China. The event opens up opportunities to seek exchange programs and research collaborations, especially in the fields of social sciences and humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and technology.

PV