Consul General Nguyen Viet Dung: Sowing seeds, cultivating and harvesting the 'sweet fruits of friendship' between Vietnam and China

Consul General of Vietnam in Guangzhou Nguyen Viet Dung. (Photo: Viet Linh)

How does the Consul General evaluate the significance of the "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey" program organized by Guangdong Radio and Television with the participation of Vietnamese news agencies and media, which recently took place at a very special time as the Vietnam-China Year of Cultural Exchange is coming to a close? As someone who directly connected, promoted, and supported the success of the program, can the Consul General share his feelings?

It can be affirmed that the "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey" organized at the end of December 2025 is a highly meaningful activity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, the Vietnam-China Year of Cultural Exchange, and the 100th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day.

The event left many deep impressions, not only enhancing the long-standing tradition of friendship, but also laying the foundation for joint efforts to build a stronger social foundation in Vietnam-China relations in the new era.

I recall the time in January 2025 when the Consulate General assisted in arranging for the VTV delegation to visit Guangzhou to produce the program "VTV Special: Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc - Decoding the French Spy Files".

We came up with the idea of arranging a cooperative program between Vietnamese and Guangdong media agencies so that the younger generation of journalists — those continuing the revolutionary journalism career of Uncle Ho — could relive the difficult, dangerous days filled with noble ideals, a spirit of service, and youthful enthusiasm.

In terms of significance, firstly, creating a "Red Journey" for the young journalists and scholars of the two countries to follow Uncle Ho's revolutionary footsteps from Guangxi to Guangdong will provide an opportunity to retell historical stories from the perspective of the younger generation, helping the public better understand a shared historical period of the two nations.

Through the news and articles produced by the journalists, I hope the young generations of both countries will gain a deeper understanding of the revolutionary path taken, drawing valuable lessons from how Uncle Ho and the pioneering leaders built profound friendships with international friends, thereby planning how to continue nurturing and building the journey ahead.

This will be the premise and foundation for the younger generation to actively contribute to building a Community for shared future with strategic significance as directed by the senior leaders of both countries.

In my opinion, the "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey" is a sustainable path to building trust and strengthening consensus. The experiential activities have provided journalists with the most authentic and relatable stories to "retell" and "touch" the readers.

In this way, each article and multimedia product has been contributing to enhancing and deepening mutual understanding between the two nations. I have a deep belief that the media will help open doors to promote exchanges and cooperation in economy-trade, culture-education, science-technology, and tourism between the two countries.

It can be said that the idea of the "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey" in 2025 was sown in the Spring, cultivated in the Summer-Autumn, when we arranged and connected the program for Guangdong Radio and Television to visit and work in Vietnam, and harvested the results in the Winter when we successfully organized this event in the warmth of the "comrades and brothers" relationship between the two countries.

Therefore, my current feeling is the joy of a "seed sower" seeing the first "sweet fruits", along with the hope for upcoming "seasons of sweet fruits".

Consul General Nguyen Viet Dung and members of the "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey" delegation visit the Revolutionary Youth League Headquarters site in Guangzhou, China. (Photo: Minh Duc)

Within the framework of the "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey", the delegation of Vietnamese news agencies and media visited historical sites linked to the revolutionary history and Vietnam-China friendship, as well as the Museum of China's Reform and Opening-Up and leading technology companies in Guangdong province. Is this a connection between the past and the present, and a suggestion for the future, Consul General?

Besides honouring history, this "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey" also connects with the present and looks to the future. The program was designed for Vietnamese journalists and scholars to explore the miraculous economic development in three major cities of Guangdong province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan), visit modern production technology at Oppo Group, experience AI technology at UBTech Robotics, sense the development potential of low-altitude economy at EHang Drone Group, and witness the future of smart cities through WeRide's autonomous driving technology.

The journey from "revolutionary red addresses" to the "Silicon Valleys" of science and technology is a continuation from the "Revolutionary Spirit" to the "Innovative Spirit" in the new era.

If China has the "Chinese Dream", then Vietnam has the aspiration and determination for the "Era of Rising" of the nation. Therefore, on the journey ahead, I believe that Vietnam and China in general, and Vietnam with Guangdong province in particular, have many commonalities to continue being comrades, partners, and reliable friends.

I also believe that the articles and digital media works by Vietnamese journalists and scholars on this occasion will encourage and open up many cooperation opportunities between research institutions, corporations, and businesses of the two countries.

Vietnamese journalists and scholars visit and learn about the Friendship-Pingxiang border gates between Vietnam and China. (Photo: Minh Duc)

Can the Consul General share the outstanding highlights of the Consulate General's activities during the vibrant Vietnam-China Year of Humanistic Exchange?

From a quantitative perspective, throughout 2025, the Consulate General organized many large-scale events, integrating political, economic, cultural diplomacy, and cultural exchanges to create a significant impact in the local community.

Notable events include: The 75th-anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations, combined with the Vietnam-China Business Forum, the 2025 Homeland Spring program, and a historical photo exhibition, artist exchanges between the two countries (January 2025); Vietnamese Ao Dai fashion show at the Great Wall of China, spreading the message of cross-border cultural exchange between the two nations (April 2025); a thematic session on Uncle Ho's revolutionary footsteps in China with the participation of the Party Cells of the Vietnamese Consulates General in Guangzhou, Nanning, and Kunming, along with local researchers and scholars (May 2025); Building the Vietnam House at the "Southern Book Fragrance" book festival with over 1 million visitors, integrating the "Comrade Hồ Chí Minh in Guangzhou" exhibition and a series of fashion shows, culinary experiences, exchanges, and discussions with historians, cultural researchers, writers, and translators from both countries (August 15-19, 2025); the 80th National Day celebration combined with the "Ao Dai meets Cheongsam" fashion show, photo exhibition, and art performances by artists from both countries (August 2025).

From a qualitative perspective, the Consulate General's events targeted a diverse audience, including scholars, friendship figures, artists, artisans, writers, journalists, and youth from both countries.

Moreover, with a focus on the younger generation, the cultural exchange activities were organized in innovative ways, not just introducing, promoting, and conveying information, but aiming to spread cultural values and depth through engaging, interactive, and trend-updating activities.

Notably, media cooperation became a significant highlight in 2025 with numerous collaborative activities with major local media agencies such as Guangdong Radio and Television and Southern Media Group. On the occasion of participating in this "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey", young Vietnamese journalists had the opportunity to exchange journalism expertise, experience technology, and modern program production techniques at major media agencies in Guangxi and Guangdong provinces.

I believe this can also be considered a talent development activity, enhancing professional capacity to contribute to building a team of "Media Ambassadors" for both countries. These activities will lay the foundation for many practical cooperation contents in the future.

The delegation visits Guangdong Radio and Television.

As we approach the 14th National Congress of the Party, how does the Consul General perceive the spirit and confidence of the people in the country as well as overseas Vietnamese in contributing to building a prosperous, powerful Vietnam, standing shoulder to shoulder with global powers as per President Ho Chi Minh's wish?

We are in crucial moments heading towards the 14th National Congress of the Party, with faith and expectations for Vietnam, filled with pride, confidence, resilience, and determination to effectively implement strategic vision, strategic autonomy, and the two strategic goals of 100 years in the nation's era of rising.

For people in the country or overseas Vietnamese, my general feeling is that they always place complete trust in the leadership of the Party and the State, hoping that this Congress will be a festival of unity for the entire Party and people, setting forth correct orientations and decisions, leveraging domestic and international resources to develop a prosperous and sustainable country.

As we know, the youth generation is the core force to propel the country faster and more steadily on the path of integration and sustainable development, realizing the nation's aspiration for greatness. Therefore, I am very pleased to witness the young Vietnamese entrepreneurs striving to promote many practical cooperation activities between Vietnamese businesses and Guangdong province, achieving commendable results.

I see many students studying and researching day and night at leading educational institutions in Guangdong province, and I hope this generation will actively contribute to achievements in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation of the country.

Great works are built from small bricks, and journeys of a thousand miles begin with the first steps. Therefore, I believe that the enthusiastic labor, creative spirit, and desire to contribute of the young Vietnamese generation in Guangdong will make practical contributions to the country's development in the new era.

Thank you, Consul General!

Delegates attending the "Vietnam-China Friendship Journey" exchange program on December 28, 2025, at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. (Photo: Minh Duc)

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