Vietnamese youth: China is my second home

(ECNS) -- China is my second home, one that bears my dreams and heartfelt memories, Vietnamese student Liu Shixuan (Chinese pinyin) told China News Network.

Liu hails from Quang Ninh Province, in northeastern Vietnam. Her connection with China took root in childhood. Her older brother once studied in China, and later started a business, got married, and settled there.

Influenced by her brother, Liu developed a deep admiration for China from a young age.

At the age of 18, Liu made the most important decision of her life. After graduating from high school, she applied to Guangxi University, where she majored in Chinese language. Then she earned the HSK Level 6 certificate, the highest level in the Chinese Proficiency Test.

There were vibrant extracurricular activities alongside her academic journey. She was elected president of the Vietnamese Students' Association at Guangxi University, participated in the 14th China-ASEAN Youth Camp, and won the first prize at the Panda Cup, a Chinese essay contest for foreign students. These experiences opened a window for her to better understand China and the world.

She was especially impressed by the China-ASEAN Young Influencer Camp she joined in July 2024. During the event, she introduced Vietnamese spring rolls and traditional Vietnamese clothing to her Chinese friends. Watching their eyes light up with curiosity and excitement filled her with joy.

She believes these seemingly ordinary moments of cultural exchange truly build bridges of understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Vietnamese people.

Liu said China boasts "four goods": beautiful landscapes, advanced technology, a strong economy, and, most importantly, kind-hearted people. But what touches her most is the warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people, the harmony and inclusiveness of society, and the well-being that economic development has brought to everyday lives, she said.

Now aged 23, Liu is pursuing a master's degree at Zhejiang University, continuing her journey of chasing dreams in China.

She said she hopes to become a bridge for mutual learning and understanding between Vietnamese and Chinese youth, and to contribute to deepening the exchanges between the two countries.

(By Gong Weiwei)