President Xi Jinping and Vietnamese President To Lam met with over 300 youth representatives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 15, marking the first anniversary of the “Red Study Tour” initiative. The meeting, held during President To Lam’s state visit to China, focused on cementing ideological ties between the next generation of leaders from both socialist nations.
The event coincided with the exact date the program was launched in April 2025 during President Xi’s visit to Vietnam. Since its inception, more than 1,000 Vietnamese youths have traveled across China to visit revolutionary sites and study the “red genes” of friendship that linked the two parties’ founding generations.
Xi and To Lam prioritize ideological continuity
President Xi framed the youth as the “baton passers” for the socialist cause. He issued three specific directives to the representatives: they must maintain the “comrade plus brother” bond, leverage their creativity to drive open cooperation, and act as a vanguard for a shared human future.
President To Lam echoed this sentiment, describing youth as the essential bridge for bilateral relations. He urged the students to improve their political capabilities and scientific knowledge to better understand the complexities of the China-Vietnam relationship.
This emphasis on “red genes” mirrors the historical pattern of socialist diplomacy, where shared revolutionary heritage is used to insulate strategic partnerships against contemporary geopolitical volatility.
The Red Study Tour focuses on revolutionary sites
The program isn’t a standard cultural exchange. It is structured around themed camps such as “Following Uncle Ho’s Footsteps” and “Light of Ideals.” These tours are designed to connect modern students with the struggle for national independence and liberation shared by both countries.
President Xi mentioned receiving letters written in Chinese from students at the High School affiliated to the Foreign Language School of Hanoi National University. These letters detailed the students’ resolve to become transmitters of friendship, signaling that the program’s impact extends beyond the physical tours into academic and linguistic integration.
Cultural diplomacy extends to the National Centre for the Performing Arts
While the political leaders focused on ideology, the diplomatic effort extended to cultural soft power. First Lady Peng Liyuan hosted Vietnamese First Lady Ngo Phuong Ly at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on the same morning.
The pair toured the opera house and a virtual reality creation space, observing rehearsals for a Chinese national dance drama. Peng Liyuan emphasized that the two nations are “linked by mountains and waters,” suggesting that artistic collaboration should supplement the political ties being forged at the Great Hall of the People.
Ngo Phuong Ly praised China’s artistic innovation and expressed a commitment to promoting further exchanges in the arts to bolster the broader friendship between the two peoples.
How many youth representatives attended the meeting?
More than 300 representatives attended, consisting of over 200 Vietnamese youth and more than 100 Chinese youth.
What is the specific goal of the “Red Study Tour”?
The program aims to encourage youth to follow the revolutionary footsteps of previous generations of leaders, explore shared “red genes” of friendship, and build a strategic China-Vietnam community with a shared future.
When was the project originally launched?
The project was officially launched on April 15, 2025, during President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam.
