(Article/Shao Hongrui, Photo/Han Qibing)

In order to actively carry out exchanges and cooperation with universities in countries along the 'Belt and Road' in the areas of inter-university exchanges, talent cultivation, scientific research and cultural communication, and to enhance the in-depth understanding of the current situation of Marxism research in foreign countries, the School of Marxism of NPU has organised a group of 23 faculty members and students to go to Vietnam for a study visit and exchanges.

Vietnam, known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is an important neighbour of China, and also one of the important countries along the 'Belt and Road'. China and Vietnam are not only connected by mountains and rivers, but also share the same cultural traditions, and both countries are socialist countries with deep traditional friendship. As important neighbours, China and Vietnam share the same political system, similar development paths and related destinies, and the development of the two countries is an important opportunity for each other. The friendship between China and Vietnam is a precious treasure of the two peoples, and this exchange study is also an important opportunity to enhance the friendship between young students of China and Vietnam.

On 25 July, the exchange group of teachers and students of the School of Marxism, led by Lu Weiping, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School, and Hao Baoquan, Vice President of the School, officially started the 8-day visit to the University of Humanities and Social Sciences (USSH) of the National University of Hanoi, Vietnam.

The exchange visit was highly valued by USSH, which held a grand opening ceremony on the morning of 26 July, attended by Nguyen Van Kim, Vice President and Secretary of the Party Committee of the university, who delivered a welcome speech, with the head of the International Affairs Department and others attending the opening ceremony.

During the visit, the faculty and students of the college have learnt about the development of Marxism and Ho Chi Minh Thought in Vietnam in general; the main fields of academic research on Ho Chi Minh Thought in Vietnam; the actual situation of Vietnamese university students' study of Marxism and Ho Chi Minh Thought; and the development of higher education in Vietnam through listening to thematic academic lectures, seminars and exchanges, and field trips. Teachers and students of the two schools had in-depth exchanges on academic research on the discipline of Marxist Theory, the mode of personnel training, and especially explored the effectiveness of the teaching of ideological and political education classes in colleges and universities of the two countries, while the answers to this question provided many inspirations for the strengthening of ideological and political education for college students in the two schools.

The exchange group also visited the Research Centre for Marxism and Ho Chi Minh Thought of the National Academy of Hanlin (Academy of Social Sciences), inspected the production of Chinese-funded enterprises in Vietnam, and visited Ho Chi Minh's Tomb in Ba Dinh Square, which provided a good platform for the teachers and students of the School to further understand the development of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPC) and Ho Chi Minh Thought, as well as the achievements of Vietnam's 'Renovation and Opening-up'. 

In the afternoon of 31 July, USSH held a grand graduation ceremony in the presence of the university's President Pham Quang Minh, who delivered a warm speech and awarded each member of the group with a certificate of graduation. The young students of the two universities performed wonderful programmes, demonstrated their excellent talents, enlivened the atmosphere and enhanced the friendship between the students of the two universities.

During this trip to Vietnam, teachers and students deeply felt the enthusiasm and meticulous thoughtfulness of USSH teachers and students, further understood the development and current situation of Marxist theory in Vietnam, and more comprehensively recognised the history, culture and the road of innovation in Vietnam. Through the short-term study and research programme in Vietnam, the School of Marxism of NPU and USSH have strengthened their interaction and friendship, laying a good foundation for future cooperation in the fields of inter-university exchanges, talent cultivation, scientific research cooperation and cultural communication.