People-to-people exchanges are a major thread in the Sino-Vietnamese friendship.

The foundation of Sino-Vietnamese relations lies in the people; close exchanges between the people of the two countries have become a major current in Sino-Vietnamese friendship, contributing to the building of a strategically significant China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future.

Performances by Chinese and Vietnamese students at the China-ASEAN Youth Music and Film Festival. (Photo: Xinhua News Agency)

On December 18th, the People's Daily published an article titled "Strengthening the Social Foundation in the China-Vietnam Shared Future Community," emphasizing the need for both sides to enhance cooperation and people-to-people exchanges to further consolidate and promote the long-standing traditional friendship between the two countries.

The article reviews the history of the friendship between China and Vietnam. According to it, the people of the two countries stood shoulder to shoulder in the struggle for independence and national liberation, supported each other in the revolutionary cause and the construction of socialism, always helped each other, shared joys and sorrows, and forged a friendship that is "both comrades and brothers."

The article emphasizes that the General Secretaries of the two Parties are directly concerned with promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, so that the traditional friendship between them continues to flourish.

The article also highlights the practical results of cooperation between the two countries: China is Vietnam's largest trading partner. Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and its fourth largest trading partner globally .

High-quality Vietnamese agricultural products such as lychees, durians, and dragon fruit are widely consumed in China. The Hanoi urban railway project, built by a Chinese company, has transported nearly 20 million passengers. The Duc Thien/Ban Gioc Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone has successfully entered trial operation.

Activities such as the friendship exchange program between the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of border provinces/autonomous regions of the two countries, and the Border People's Friendship Festival... were implemented enthusiastically.

Many Vietnamese people are familiar with classic Chinese literature. Contemporary Chinese films are also popular among Vietnamese people. Popular Vietnamese songs are shared on Chinese social media; Vietnamese singers gain a large fan base when participating in art programs in China.

These exchanges and collaborations have contributed to strengthening the social connections between the people of the two countries. Close exchanges between the people of the two countries have become a major force in the Sino-Vietnamese friendship.

The article also points out three expectations for the youth of the two countries that General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping mentioned in his speech at the meeting with Vietnamese and Chinese friendship leaders and young people. These are: to be ambassadors for Sino-Vietnamese friendship, contributing to the building of a strategically significant China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future; to be partners in the development of the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to long-term stability in the region; and to promote the progress of humanity, contributing to the building of a Community of Shared Future for Humanity.

The article also summarizes the thoughts and feelings of representatives from both countries at the meeting of Vietnamese and Chinese friendship leaders and young people. It emphasizes that the traditional friendship, "both comrades and brothers," personally built and nurtured by Chairman Mao Zedong and President Ho Chi Minh, along with other pioneering leaders, is a precious asset of the two peoples, needing to be inherited, preserved, and promoted. The youth of both countries will strengthen close exchanges, enhance mutual learning and exchange, deepen friendship and mutual trust, and work together towards the goal of a "more solid social foundation" set forth by the two General Secretaries. This will lead to more positive and diligent contributions to the building of the strategically significant China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future.

The article concludes that the foundation of China-Vietnam relations lies in the people, and the strength comes from the people. To achieve the goals of each country, as well as to build a strategically significant China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future, many pioneers are needed in the journey of friendship between the two countries.

Both sides need to build upon traditional friendship, strengthen cooperation and exchanges, and make even greater contributions to consolidating the social foundation of the China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future, as well as to the cause of peace and progress for humanity.

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