China’s first lady impressed by Vietnamese students’ Chinese proficiency

Peng, wife of China’s Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, joined Phan Thi Thanh Tam, wife of Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong, to visit Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi, on Wednesday morning.

“I click one “Like” for you guys,” she said when having a meeting with the school’s students.

Peng said language was a bridge in daily communication.

Learning Chinese helps Vietnamese students understand more about China and Chinese students studying Vietnamese will have the opportunity to learn more about Vietnamese culture.

She hopes that as the Vietnam – China friendship continues to deepen, the market will have more and more demand for talented people who learn Chinese.

Emphasizing that young people and talents play an important role in building the nation’s future, Peng said she hopes that Vietnamese and Chinese students will increase exchanges and that the number of Vietnamese students studying in China will keep rising.

“I really hope that you will deepen the friendship between Vietnam and China,” Peng said.

Many students attending the event spoke in Chinese to express their interest in Chinese culture, cinema, costumes, as well as the friendly relationship between Vietnam and China.

Le Vu Thanh Thao, a student of the Faculty of Chinese Language and Culture, shared her dream of becoming a Chinese teacher.

“Maybe they, like me, believe that through education we can increase understanding and affection between the people of the two countries. One day we will become a bridge of friendship between the two countries,” Thao said on behalf of her schoolmates.

Doan Bich Phuong, another student at the University of Languages & International Studies, said more than 600 Chinese students are studying at VNU.

“This is not only an opportunity to increase Vietnam – China’s friendship but also a great opportunity for us to learn and share our knowledge and culture,” she said.

Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan (L) and Phan Thi Thanh Tam, wife of Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong, hold Vietnamese conical hat non la with the word “huu nghi” (friendship) as gifted by students at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Dec. 12, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phong

During their visit to the VNU, Peng and Tam also enjoyed cultural performances by the students.

Praising the musical performances, Peng said, “You do not just speak Chinese well but also have musical and artistic qualities.”

Affirming that music is a bridge when people do not speak the same language, she hopes that Vietnamese students will improve their effectiveness in learning Chinese by listening to songs and watching movies.

27,000 Vietnamese people studied in China in 2022, more than double compared to 2018, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo said in August.

Peng and China’s Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping started their two-day state visit to Vietnam Tuesday.

The visit is Xi’s third to Vietnam as China’s Party General Secretary and president. The previous two visits were in 2015 and 2017.

 

 

China’s first lady impressed by Vietnamese students’ Chinese proficiency

Bà Bành Lệ Viên và cùng bà Phan Thị Thanh Tâm – phu nhân Chủ tịch nước Võ Văn Thưởng