Opening of the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum: Fostering relations from a people-to-people foundation

Attending the opening ceremony, on the Vietnamese side were Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Mr. Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; experts, scholars, research institutes, universities, and friendship personalities in the fields of politics , defense, economics, education, science, and technology; Vietnamese lecturers and students at a number of universities in Hanoi.

On the Chinese side, there were Mr. Ha Vi, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Ton Hoc Khanh, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; experts, scholars from research institutes, universities, and friendship figures in the fields of politics, defense, economics , education, science, and technology; the delegation of the People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; officials of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, teachers, and Chinese students studying in Hanoi; and representatives of Chinese enterprises in Vietnam.

Khai mạc Diễn đàn nhân dân Việt - Trung lần thứ 13: Bồi đắp quan hệ từ nền tảng nhân dân

Delegates attending the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Strengthening trust and cultivating the Vietnamese-Chinese people's foundation

In his opening speech, Mr. Phan Anh Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, said that the Vietnam - China People's Forum is an important people-to-people exchange mechanism to promote exchanges and cooperation, thereby enhancing political understanding and trust, consolidating a solid social foundation, and is highly appreciated by the leaders of the two countries. The 13th Forum is even more meaningful as in 2025 the two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, marking the 15th anniversary of the formation of the Forum mechanism.

Mr. Phan Anh Son expressed his gratitude to Chinese friendship organizations and personalities who have made many positive contributions to the relationship between the two countries on the people-to-people channel - an important channel as General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized: "The Vietnam - China friendship has its foundation in the people."

Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, delivered the opening speech at the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Mr. Phan Anh Son pointed out that the current world situation is undergoing fundamental changes of the times. In that context, the Vietnam - China friendship is of even greater significance, not only contributing to promoting the close friendship between the two peoples but also contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

He suggested that in the coming time, the two sides continue to strengthen, promote and organize forums, dialogues and exchanges similar to the Vietnam-China People's Forum on the people's channel and other channels to promote two important things that the leaders of the Chinese Party and State and the leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State both expect, which are: promoting political trust and promoting and consolidating the foundation of Vietnam-China people-to-people relations.

According to Mr. Phan Anh Son, the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum revolves around 4 groups of contents: 75 years of Vietnam - China friendship; models and perspectives on national governance; economic - trade - investment cooperation and education - science and technology cooperation. He believes that the Forum will attract many discussions and opinions from experts and scholars of the two countries, contributing to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and making practical contributions to building Vietnam - China relations in the new period.

Mr. Sun Xueqing, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, reviewed the 15-year process of formation and development of the Forum - a mechanism he called "a loyal messenger, connecting the people's hearts and minds, converging mutual trust and reaching common understandings". He made suggestions for this year's Forum, including:

Mr. Ton Hoc Khanh, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, spoke at the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Strengthening strategic trust and taking the "steering wheel" to guide the building of a China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future. Like-mindedness and a shared future are the most prominent features of the bilateral relationship. China always considers Vietnam a priority direction in its foreign policy toward neighboring countries. Vietnam also identifies developing relations with China as a strategic choice and top priority.

Inheriting and carrying forward the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, deepening mutual trust through enhancing strategic dialogue, consolidating the foundation on the basis of persistent equality and respect, with a steadfast political common understanding, firmly leading the China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future to move forward.

Strengthen strategic cooperation and sustainably maintain the driving force for building a China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future. China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner for many years, while Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and fourth globally. China's 15th Five-Year Plan will open up vast development opportunities for bilateral cooperation. He proposed focusing on discussing areas such as digital economy, green development, cross-border industrial cooperation, etc. to promote the connection of the "Belt and Road" initiative with the "Two Corridors, One Economic Belt" strategy, to create a solid material foundation.

Cultivate the humanistic foundation and strengthen the "centripetal force" for the construction of the China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future. This year is also the Year of China-Vietnam Humanitarian Exchange. Last month, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations successfully organized the opening ceremony of the "Red Research Journey" program for Vietnamese youth in Chongqing. The youth of the two countries followed in the footsteps of previous generations of leaders and studied the red genetic heritage of China-Vietnam friendship, becoming a vivid image of the connection between the people and the inheritance of the tradition of friendship between the two countries.

Uphold the common values of all mankind of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, jointly promote the implementation of important global initiatives at the people's level, contribute wisdom and vision to create a favorable external environment to promote the building of the China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future, and maintain peace and stability in the region and the world.

Exploiting opportunities, expanding cooperation and vision for the future

Ambassador Ha Vi said that 2025 is a special year in the relationship between the two countries, associated with the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to China to carry out revolutionary activities.

Emphasizing the role of the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum as one of the important activities of people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries, Ambassador Ha Vi suggested that the Forum promote its role in the following areas:

Mr. Ha Vi, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, speaks at the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Uphold the original wish, gather consensus, develop and unite more friendly people to join the historical flow to promote the development of China-Vietnam friendship.

Exploit opportunities, promote mutual benefits, and explore new areas of cooperation through forum activities, continuously expand the depth and breadth of substantive cooperation, and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in all aspects.

Planning vision, seizing opportunities to move forward. Under the guidance of the important guiding spirit of the senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries on the future development direction of bilateral relations, put forward opinions and proposals for the overall plan and direction of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries in the next period.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ngo Le Van speaks at the 13th Vietnam - China People's Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Ngo Le Van said that the theme of this year's Forum clearly demonstrated the strategic vision and spirit of the two Parties' senior leaders, affirming that the relationship between the two Parties and two countries can only be sustainable when nurtured by sincere affection and closeness between the two peoples; affirming the determination of the two countries in making people-to-people exchange and cooperation a solid pillar of bilateral relations.

He highly appreciated the people's friendship organizations of the two countries' coordination in organizing many practical exchange activities in recent times, such as the People's Friendship Festival, the Border People's Festival... In particular, through 12 times of organization, the Vietnam - China People's Forum has become an important exchange channel for the two sides to openly, frankly and sincerely exchange about the relationship between the two countries, including thoughts on existing, sensitive and complicated issues, and at the same time propose recommendations to contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.

According to Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van, this year's Forum is an opportunity for experts, scholars and friendly personalities from both sides to review the deep friendship and close ties between the two countries in the past; at the same time, look to the future, discuss in depth the issues of the times, share experiences on the development of each Party and each country and propose and recommend solutions to continue deepening bilateral relations in the new situation, especially measures to promote and strengthen trust, friendship and cooperation between the people of the two countries.

Delegates attending the 13th Vietnam-China People's Forum take a souvenir photo. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

He hoped that the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries would continue to organize exchange activities, including the Vietnam-China People's Forum mechanism; promote positive propaganda about the Vietnam-China friendship, create a favorable atmosphere and a good social foundation for the relationship between the two countries. He believed that the 13th Forum would bring out many new ideas and initiatives, practically contributing to building an increasingly strong people's foundation, further deepening the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and promoting the building of a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/khai-mac-dien-dan-nhan-dan-viet-trung-lan-thu-13-boi-dap-quan-he-tu-nen-tang-nhan-dan-217894.html