The China-Vietnam media delegation visited sites of the Chinese and Vietnamese revolutions in Guangzhou on December 27, reflecting the long-standing friendship between the two countries by tracing the deep historical roots of their shared revolutionary past.
A cradle where sparks of revolutionary fires were ignited
In the morning, the delegation visited the site of the former Vietnamese Youth Political Training Class. Built in the 1920s, this site served as a base where the Vietnamese revolutionary Hồ Chí Minh (later President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) led the revolutionary movement.
Mai Thị Thu, a journalist from Vietnam's Thanh Niên (Youth) Newspaper, expressed her deep honor in working for a publication that shares the name "Youth," much like the youth newspaper established by Hồ Chí Minh in Guangzhou, one of the first revolutionary newspapers in Vietnam.
"As a Vietnamese Youth, visiting this site fills me with great honor and pride. This is one of the cradles of the Vietnamese revolution and a testament to the friendship between our two countries," she said.
Mai Thị Thu believes that, building upon the solid foundation of friendship laid by the revolutionary predecessors of both countries, the younger generation will further strengthen the friendly ties between China and Vietnam, making their bond even more resilient.
"There are numerous areas for collaboration and exchange between the youth of our two countries. In particular, China's advanced science and technology today offer significant opportunities for deeper exchanges and cooperation among young people," she added.
Nguyễn Việt Dũng, Consul General of Vietnam in Guangzhou, remarked that this media tour holds great significance as it facilitates exchanges between China and Vietnam, especially during the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Year of People-to-People Exchanges between the two countries.
"Through this media tour, Vietnamese journalists have gained firsthand experience at sites of shared revolutionary history between China and Vietnam, particularly in Guangzhou. Their experiences will provide valuable insights for Vietnamese youth," the Consul General stated.
Honoring shared sacrifices: Chinese and Vietnamese Martyrs at Huanghuagang Park
Next, the delegation visited the Huanghuagang Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs in Guangzhou. This mausoleum was built in memory of the 72 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Huanghuagang Uprising led by Sun Yat-sen and the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance.
Here, there is also the tomb of a Vietnamese martyr—Phạm Hồng Thái. In 1924, Phạm Hồng Thái attempted to assassinate Merlin, the French Governor-General of Vietnam, but failed and subsequently drowned in the Pearl River.
Nguyễn Hoài Đảm, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union at Vietnam Television and editor, who also serves as the leader of this media tour, noted that the story of Martyr Phạm Hồng Thái is familiar to many Vietnamese, having been ingrained in their minds since school days and included in textbooks.
"However, today, standing before the martyr's monument and visiting the place where he sacrificed his life alongside his Chinese friends, we feel as though the martyr has stepped out of history and into reality," Nguyễn Hoài Đảm reflected.
He expressed that encountering the legacy of martyrdom in Guangzhou deepens appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices made by Vietnamese predecessors and their Chinese comrades in the struggle for the independence and freedom of both peoples.
"For Vietnamese people, Guangzhou is an essential destination as it helps us better understand the values of independence, freedom, happiness, and peace that Vietnam and many other countries have aspired to and continue to build," he added.
Nguyễn Hoài Đảm emphasized that this trip to Guangzhou has provided journalists with greater opportunities to understand the shared history and revolutionary past of the two countries, particularly the revolutionary activities of Vietnamese leaders.
"We deeply feel that the revolutionary development of our two countries has been closely interconnected, a fact affirmed throughout many historical stages," he said, noting that this tour enables Vietnamese journalists to gather valuable material to share with audiences, readers, and the people of both nations, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between China and Vietnam.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
