A Chinese language training center was established in Lao
Cai Province in Vietnam on Saturday, aiming to help
promote ties, including education and culture ones, between China
and Vietnam.
The establishment of the Chinese language training center will
act as a new bridge to facilitate education and culture cooperation
exchanges of southwest China's Yunnan
Province and Vietnam's northern Lao Cai Province and contribute
to the further development of friendly relations between the two
countries, Qi Jianguo, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, said at the
center's opening.
Yunnan and Lao Cai Province have seen remarkable improvement in
education and culture development in recent years, he stated,
noting that the number of students from Yunnan currently studying
in Vietnam stands at more than 100, and that from Lao Cai and other
Vietnamese localities in the Honghe Institute and other
universities in the Chinese province is some 1,000.
Addressing the ceremony, Bui Quang Vinh, chairman of the Lao Cai
People's Committee, said: "Lao Cai and Yunnan are gradually
becoming an important bridge linking Vietnam and other members of
ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with the
promising vast western region of China. The center's formation is a
good opportunity for the two sides to deepen their education and
training ties, as well as a favorable condition for Vietnamese
cadres and students to enrich their knowledge of beautiful China's
language, culture and people."
About 300 representatives, including senior officials, scholars
and students from Yunnan's Honghe Prefecture and Lao Cai, attended
the opening ceremony.
(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2005)