A Chinese-Vietnamese couple captivated attendees Friday at a parallel dialogue of the Global Mayors Dialogue event in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, sharing their story of intertwining romance with tourism entrepreneurship.

Their experience highlighted the growing cultural and tourism connections between China and ASEAN countries and resonated with the broader theme of the dialogue, which focused on promoting city prosperity through cultural and tourism cooperation.

Qin Qiaozhen and her husband, Nguyen Duc Tho, share their story during a parallel dialogue at the Global Mayors Dialogue event in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Jan. 17, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]

Qin Qiaozhen, a native of Guangxi, and her Vietnamese husband, Nguyen Duc Tho, met while studying tourism in Guilin, Guangxi. Qin was an undergraduate, and Nguyen was pursuing postgraduate studies at Guangxi Normal University. After their marriage, they settled in Nanning and launched a travel agency in 2023, focusing on attracting Vietnamese tourists to China. Their agency has successfully welcomed 150,000 visitors to date.

"Guangxi's Youyiguan and Dongxing ports are close to Nanning," Qin said. "These ports make it convenient for Vietnamese visitors to travel to Nanning and then explore other cities across China." She noted that Vietnamese tourists are drawn to shopping for clothing, home appliances and tea. She expressed her desire to make Nanning a popular weekend destination for them.

Nguyen stressed the importance of the cultural connection between China and Vietnam, which adds depth to the travel experience. "Vietnamese tourists are particularly fascinated by China's cultural heritage, historical towns and cuisine," he said.

During the dialogue, Guo Wei, vice mayor of Nanning, described the city as a hub of public goods and services, emphasizing that its value is found in its distinctive offerings. These include hosting the China-ASEAN Expo for 21 consecutive years, the China-ASEAN (Nanning) Theater Week, and the 2024 China-ASEAN Dragon Boat Open, as well as its role as a regional center for agricultural products and Chinese herbal medicine trading. Nanning has established sister city relationships with 31 cities worldwide, including 10 within ASEAN.

Yun Sinang, deputy director of the Administration of Siem Reap Municipality in Cambodia, emphasized her city’s commitment to enriching visitor experiences while preserving cultural heritage. "Siem Reap isn’t just about Angkor Wat," she said, highlighting the city’s diverse cultural and historical sites. She credited China’s infrastructure support through the Belt and Road Initiative, which led to the opening of Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in 2023. This development, she noted, has significantly improved tourism access in Cambodia.

Yun advocated for greater cultural tourism collaboration between China and ASEAN countries, proposing educational exchanges, sustainable tourism projects and sharing best practices in heritage preservation to maintain traditions for future generations.

Attendees of the Global Mayors Dialogue event enjoy a lion dance performance in Nanning's Sanjie Liangxiang historical district, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Jan. 15, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]

Sabin bin Samitah, mayor of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, reflected on the shared cultural heritage between his country and China, noting the prominent role of the lion dance in both cultures. He recalled enjoying a lion dance performance in Nanning's Sanjie Liangxiang historical district.

As 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, the two countries agreed to jointly apply for the inclusion of the lion dance on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Sabin also highlighted Malaysia's Dragon Boat Festival, which attracts tourists from Singapore, Brunei, and other countries and regions.

Adding to the discussion, Malaysian Chinese Choong Chee Keong, a senior professor at Malaysia's Tunku Abdul Rahman University, emphasized the cultural significance of inscribing the Spring Festival — along with the social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional New Year — on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List. He noted that this recognition would help preserve and promote traditional Chinese culture, contributing to its continued dissemination across Southeast Asia.

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