Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

In the Sino-Vietnamese border Spring Festival program, bringing exciting emotions

Recently, the 2024 Sino-Vietnamese Cross-Border Spring Festival Gala and the Border Ethnic Group Grand Gala were held in Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, and He Kou Yao Autonomous County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, respectively. The Chinese and Vietnamese representatives who participated in the events welcomed the arrival of the Chinese Year of the Dragon together.

Recently, the Border Spring Festival Program and the 2024 China-Vietnam Border People's Festival were held in Laocai City, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, and the Ha Khau Dao Autonomous County, Ha Nhì Autonomous Prefecture, Di Hongha, Yunnan Province, China. Delegates from China and Vietnam participated in this event to joyfully welcome the Chinese Year of the Dragon together.

Expectation

Expectation

Wang Yu, full-time Vice President of the Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Foreign Friendship, said: "Today, the border people of Yunnan and Vietnam have gathered again. Through singing and dancing, they negotiated cooperation; through laughter and joy, they signed an agreement. Together, they welcomed the Lunar New Year. This is a practical embodiment of the achievements of General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam last December, and it holds great significance in creating a peaceful, harmonious, friendly, and united border atmosphere for prosperity and development. People-to-people friendship has always been the deepest force in the development of China-Vietnam relations. The 'mutual journey' from the government to the people has become a vivid footnote to the 'comrades-to-brothers' relationship. We will uphold the 'sixteen-character' policy and the 'Four Goods' spirit to strengthen friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields among the people, and push the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Vietnam in the new era to reach a new level."

Wang Yu, Vice President of the Yunnan Provincial People's Friendship Association with Foreign Countries, said: "Today, the border peoples of Yunnan and Vietnam reunite here to discuss cooperation in singing and dancing, and sign agreements in laughter to joyfully welcome the Lunar New Year together. This is a practical demonstration of the achievements of General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam last December, which is of great significance in creating a peaceful, harmonious, friendly, and united border atmosphere for prosperous development. The friendship between the peoples has always been a solid strength in the development of China-Vietnam relations. The mutual exchanges from the state to the grassroots have become a vivid explanation for 'both comrades and brothers'. We will firmly adhere to the '16 Golden Words' and the spirit of '4 Good', strengthen friendly exchanges between the peoples of the two countries and cooperate for mutual benefit in various fields, and continuously elevate the China-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to new heights in the new era."

Friendly

Friendship

Zheng Chunzhang, Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee: "In the 'Joint Statement on Further Deepening and Enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a Vietnam-China Community with a Shared Future of Strategic Significance', both sides agreed to support the exchange and cooperation of the two countries' local authorities, especially the border provinces (districts), and to hold a grand festival for border people. This is an important guide for Lao Cai Province and Honghe Prefecture to further strengthen future exchanges and cooperation. In the spring of 2024, we are very pleased to continue the exchange activities to welcome the New Year. The cultural performances at the festival showcase the cultural characteristics of the ethnic peoples of Lao Cai Province and Honghe Prefecture. This grand festival is also one of the activities to strengthen the friendship between the peoples of the two countries, especially the understanding, friendship, cooperation, and mutual trust among the border people of both sides."

Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, stated: "InThe Joint Statement on Deepening and Upgrading the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a Community with a Shared Future for Vietnam and China is of strategic significance., both sides agreed to support exchanges and cooperation between the localities of the two countries, especially the border provinces (autonomous regions) to promote exchanges and cooperation, and organize border people's festivals. This is an important guiding principle for Lao Cai province and Hong Ha Prefecture to further enhance exchanges and cooperation in the future. In the spring of 2024, we are very pleased to continue the Spring greetings exchange activities. The cultural programs showcase the distinctive culture of the ethnic groups in Lao Cai province and Hong Ha Prefecture. This festival is also one of the activities aimed at strengthening friendship between the peoples of the two countries, especially enhancing mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation, and trust between the border peoples of the two countries."

Harvest

Harvest

Ying Haizong, Deputy Secretary of the Honghe Prefecture Party Committee and Director of the Propaganda Department, said: "By 'using culture as a stage and the economy as the play', we have achieved fruitful results. In recent years, the interconnectedness between Honghe Prefecture and Lao Cai Province has taken a new step forward. The 'One Box to the End' special train now directly reaches Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and the volume of durian customs clearance at the Haikou port in Vietnam has increased significantly year-on-year. New achievements have been made in economic and trade cooperation, with fruitful outcomes from the China-Vietnam (Lao Cai) International Trade Fair and the China-Vietnam (Honghe) Investment Promotion Conference. The new face of friendly exchanges has been showcased, with wonderful bilateral events such as the joint media interviews 'Cloud Terraces • Dream Honghe' and 'International Youth China Tour • Honghe'."

Mr. Ung Hoi Tong, Deputy Secretary of the Hong Ha District Party Committee and Head of the Propaganda Department of the District Party Committee, stated: "We 'develop the economy based on culture' andachievedgood achievements. In recent years, the connection between Honghe and Lao Cai province has made a new breakthrough, with the 'full-load train' from China to Vietnam directly reaching Ho Chi Minh City without changing wagons, and the volume of Vietnamese durian cleared at the Ha Khau border gate has increased significantly compared to the same period. Economic and trade cooperation has achieved new milestones, with the China-Vietnam International Trade Fair (Lao Cai) and the China-Vietnam Investment Promotion Conference (Honghe) achieving outstanding results. Friendly exchanges have shown a new face, with joint interviews by Chinese and Vietnamese media such as 'Terraced fields on the clouds, dreamy Honghe' and 'International youth trip to China-Honghe', and bilateral activities are always wonderful."

Pride

Proud

Zheng Ting, Deputy Director of the Wenlv Bureau of Honghe Prefecture, said: "The China-Vietnam Cross-Border Spring Festival Gala has been held since 2017. This year marks the sixth edition, and the biggest highlight is the integration of tradition and modernity. Both China and Vietnam have rich ethnic cultures. Through the program arrangements, we presented a visual feast to the people of both countries, inspiring their national pride and sense of identity, and further promoting cultural exchanges between the two nations."

Ms. Trinh Dinh, Deputy Director of the Hong Ha Cultural and Tourism Bureau, said: "The Spring Festival program across the border has been organized since 2017, this year is the 6th time, and the biggest attraction is the combination of tradition and modernity. Both China and Vietnam have rich ethnic cultures. Through practicing the performance acts, we have presented a visual feast to the people of both countries, stimulating their national pride and sense of national identity, and further promoting cultural exchange between China and Vietnam."

Happy

Fun

Yang Jiaxiang, a dancer from the Honghe Prefecture Song and Dance Troupe, said: "This is my fifth time participating in the China-Vietnam Cross-Border Spring Festival Gala, and every time leaves a very deep impression on me. The friends from both countries cooperate and rehearse together, getting along very well. This time, the performance programs feature more of the unique characteristics and charm of ethnic minorities, expressed in a combination of multiple ethnic groups such as the Hani, Yi, and Yao. I am very happy to participate in this event; there is a strong festive atmosphere here, and everyone is very enthusiastic."

Anh Duong Gia Tuong, a dancer from the Hong Ha Music and Dance Troupe, said: "This is the 5th time I have participated in the Cross-Border Spring Festival Program, and I am very impressed every time. Friends from both countries have practiced and collaborated together very harmoniously. This performance program mainly showcases the unique features of ethnic minorities, expressed in the form of combining multiple ethnic groups such as the Ha Nhi, Di, and Dao ethnic groups, etc. I am very happy to participate in this activity. The Tet holiday here is rich and vibrant, and everyone is very enthusiastic."