On April 13, a dialogue on telling the story of China–Vietnam friendship was convened in Guangzhou, bringing together media professionals, digital creators, and youth leaders from both nations.
The dialogue was a signature event of a study camp of the "Red Study Tours" project for Vietnamese youth in China, held from April 11 to 18 in Guangzhou and Beijing.
At the event, Chinese and Vietnamese representatives shared their personal narratives, professional insights, and heart-warming stories.
Le Minh Duc, a member of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), highlighted that friendship is not an abstract concept. He pointed to the mutual fascination between the two cultures—Vietnamese youth's love for Chinese milk tea and dramas, and Chinese youth's interest in Vietnam's rapid development.
"As young journalists, we are the direct participants in writing new chapters of this story," Le said. He advocated for the use of AI, short-form video, and collaborative newsroom mechanisms to ensure these stories reach a digital-first audience.
The historical depth of the relationship was also brought to life at the event by Yuan Zixiang, a senior reporter at South, Nanfang Media Group. He shared the moving account of Yu Shuhui, a staff member at Nanxishan Hospital who participated in medical aid to Vietnam decades ago.
Yuan Zixiang also expressed a wish to further communication and interaction with Vietnamese peers in sectors such as economy and trade, cultural exchange, and youth people-to-people exchanges.
Digital innovation was another focus of the event. Nguyen Bich Ha, a Vietnamese content creator, revealed that her inspiration to document her country's beauty came from the Chinese cultural icon, Li Ziqi. She proposed that Vietnamese and Chinese creators form "joint production teams" to explore each other's cities, such as Hanoi and Chengdu, through vlogs and podcasts.
"A sincere video can cross any language barrier," she stated, noting that the curiosity young people feel for one another across the border is the strongest bridge available today.
As the dialogue concluded, representatives from Vietnam Television (VTV) and Vitamin Network discussed practical ways to institutionalize these exchanges, including proposing a shared "story database" for content creators and enhancing mutual visits for young journalists.
The event ended with a gift exchange, symbolizing a shared commitment to ensuring that the friendship cultivated by previous generations continues to flourish in the digital age.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
