University leaders attend the 6th Forum of University Presidents of the Red River Basin.
In his opening remarks, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, emphasized that the Forum, established in 2014 with 12 member universities, has developed into a sustainable and effective cooperation mechanism. Through many editions, the Forum has contributed to enhancing understanding, sharing resources, and promoting multidisciplinary cooperation between universities in the two countries, particularly through the exchange of staff, lecturers, and students, and the organization of alternating scientific conferences. Currently, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is providing long-term training for 58 students from several major universities in Yunnan Province; along with regular postgraduate programs, lecturer exchanges, and joint research projects.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, delivered the opening remarks at the Forum.
Mr. Liu Gang, a member of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee's Education Working Committee, delivered a speech at the Forum.
At the Forum, Mr. Liu Gang, a member of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee's Education Working Committee, acknowledged the extensive cooperation between educational institutions of the two countries. He stated that Yunnan currently has over 9 million students, many universities with high rankings, and in this context, Vietnam-China educational cooperation, especially in the Red River Delta region, has strategic significance. Representatives from the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education proposed five priority areas: improving coordination mechanisms, enhancing the effectiveness of the Forum, promoting faculty exchanges, linking training with local development needs, and strengthening short-term training cooperation. These proposals contribute to concretizing the effectiveness of the Forum's cooperation, translating agreements into feasible projects in training, research, and community service.
In 2025, the Forum will focus on summarizing cooperation during the 2024-2025 period and developing a roadmap for 2026-2027, including expanding the membership network, developing joint programs, promoting joint research, and agreeing that Wenshan Academy will be the host institution for 2026.
The forum has welcomed two new members.
Member universities signed a memorandum of cooperation at the Forum.
Within the framework of the Forum, member universities held a signing ceremony for Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation, including: Kunming University of Technology and the University of Information and Communication Technology - Thai Nguyen University; Southwest Forestry University and Vietnam Forestry University; Hong Ha Academy and the International Faculty - Thai Nguyen University.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Professor Thang Long - Vice Rector of Van Son Academy performed the flag handover ceremony.
One of the key highlights of this year's Forum was the "Educational Exchange Program between Universities in the Red River Basin," held on the campus of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Here, university leaders and a large number of Vietnamese and Chinese students visited and had the opportunity to learn about training programs, research orientations, collaborative initiatives, and academic exchange opportunities between universities of the two countries.
Leaders of Vietnamese and Chinese universities and students visited and learned about the member universities of the Forum.
Discussing initiatives to develop collaborative relationships in higher education.Within the framework of the 6th Forum of Rectors of Universities in the Red River Delta, in-depth discussions focused on evaluating the results of cooperation over the past period, while proposing strategic directions to promote Vietnam-China higher education cooperation in the context of increasingly expanding cultural, scientific, and technological exchanges.
Accordingly, the period 2023-2025 marks a new stage of development for the Forum as Vietnam-China educational cooperation shifts from traditional academic exchange to a strategic partnership model, aligned with the "Vietnam-China Humanities Exchange Year 2025" and the goal of building a "Community of Shared Future". The Forum has become a unique inter-regional cooperation space, where universities from both sides closely coordinate in two specialized subcommittees, promoting training and research programs to serve the development of the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong corridor.
Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesPresenting the summary report on the Forum's activities for the period 2023-2025.
Within the social sciences and humanities, collaborative training has seen significant growth. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities maintains its position as the leading institution for Vietnamese language training for students in Yunnan Province, with the number increasing from 131 to 140 students; Honghe Academy leads with 90 students, while also expanding to postgraduate levels with doctoral students, master's students, and interns. Chinese universities have reformed their language training programs to be more closely linked to vocational skills, notably the "One - Two Wings - Three Integrations" master's program model of Yunnan University, which has significantly increased the employment rate after graduation. Many important policy proposals on border trade and infrastructure connectivity were published by Chinese research institutes during this period.
In the STEM field, cooperation is shifting towards application and technology transfer. Typical projects include the International Biomass Materials Research Cooperation Center, agricultural and forestry training programs, and high-skilled workforce training courses in metallurgy, AI, biomedical science, and the aluminum industry. These results demonstrate that the Forum is becoming a substantive cooperation mechanism, contributing to human resource development and interdisciplinary research serving the sustainable development of the Red River Basin.
The forum's discussion session on December 8th was divided into two subcommittees. Subcommittee 1, co-chaired by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Hong Ha Academy, discussed cooperation in training and research in social sciences and humanities across six key areas: Vietnamese and Chinese languages and cultures; regional studies; cross-border trade; Marxism; folk art; and the high school-in-university model.
Professor Lai Quoc Khanh and Mr. Yang Sheng Chao co-chaired the discussion session of Subcommittee 1.
Subcommittee 2, co-chaired by the University of Science (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) and Southwest China Forestry University, focused on exchanging ideas on cooperation in natural sciences, engineering, and technology. Key topics included: connecting science and technology cooperation with cultural exchange; building a joint research network in the context of climate change; expanding student exchanges and STEM internships; and proposing the organization of a Vietnam-China Young Scientists Forum.
Associate Professor Dr. Ngac An Bang and Mr. Li Jun co-chaired the discussion session of Subcommittee 2.
Based on 36 presentations and speeches, the Forum of Rectors of Universities in the Red River Basin agreed on eight key cooperation directions for the next phase. First, the Forum of Rectors of Universities in the Red River Basin is defined as a space for inter-regional and cross-border academic cooperation, using the Red River Basin – a shared geographical, ecological, economic, and cultural space between Vietnam and China – as a foundation to propose and coordinate cooperation in training, scientific research, and innovation. Training cooperation will be implemented in an interdisciplinary and multi-level manner, through dual degree models, course recognition, 1+2, 2+x, 2+2, 3+1 programs, and short courses to meet the human resource needs of the digital economy, border trade, and sustainable development.
The forum also prioritizes promoting joint research on cross-border issues such as high-tech agriculture, food security, water resources, climate change, health, and human exchange. Along with this, the parties agreed to gradually build and share common science and technology infrastructure, including joint laboratories (one laboratory - two locations), shared laboratory use, smart education platforms, virtual simulation, online teaching, and shared software, serving joint projects, joint research groups, and joint scientific publications, especially in STEM, AI, engineering, medicine, agriculture, forestry, pharmaceuticals, and high technology fields.
Delegates presented their papers at the Forum.
Furthermore, the Forum aims to establish a cross-border network of specialized research and a co-supervision mechanism for postgraduate studies, leading to the development of basin-level think tanks. Increased academic exchange among rectors, faculty, scientists, and students is also emphasized to connect training and research with regional development practices. Simultaneously, the Forum focuses on promoting international research projects in the fields of environment, biodiversity, public health, and climate change adaptation. Universities agree on a cooperation mechanism through the establishment of specialized subcommittees, the creation of information sharing channels, and the maintenance of annual activities to ensure continuity and effective collaboration.
The forum concluded in an atmosphere of trusting cooperation and responsibility, marking a new step forward in academic linkages between Vietnamese and Chinese universities. The success of the forum opens up prospects for deeper, more substantive, and sustainable cooperation in research, training, and innovation at universities in the Red River Delta.
The press reported on the event:
Education and Times Newspaper:Promoting Vietnam-China university cooperation at the Red River University Presidents' Forum 2025
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: The 6th Red River Basin University Rectors' Forum: Promoting scientific and technological cooperation and cultural exchange between Vietnam and China
Vietnam National University, Hanoi:Promoting Vietnam-China university cooperation at the Red River University Presidents' Forum 2025
Voice of Vietnam Radio:Enhancing the sharing of educational resources between Vietnam and China.
Business and Investment Magazine:
https://doanhnghiepvadautu.info.vn/nang-tam-hop-tac-giao-duc-dai-hoc-trong-boi-canh-moi0x0.html?isview=1
