The 5th Conference of the Rectors' Forum of Universities in the Red River Basin: A turning point in Vietnam - China training cooperation in the Red River Basin

The Forum of Rectors of Universities in the Red River Basin is an educational cooperation organization co-founded by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Honghe Academy, China in 2014. After 4 sessions, the Forum has operated very effectively, contributing significantly to promoting cooperation between schools in the Forum, mobilizing experts from schools to participate in solving scientific issues of mutual interest, supporting talent training, sharing scientific information, promoting the publication of research results, etc. From a limited number of members at the beginning, the Forum has expanded, recruiting many new members, making the scale of the Forum increasingly larger. From 2019 to 2022, despite the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted direct cooperation activities, the Red River Basin University Presidents Forum still stood firm, continued to care for and support each other from afar, and was determined to make a strong comeback by organizing the 5th Conference at Yunnan University, China.
Speaking at the Forum, Associate Professor Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh emphasized: "The Red River is not only a natural river flowing through many provinces and cities of China and Vietnam, but also a historical and cultural river connecting the two nations with many loyal and steadfast brotherly and comradely feelings. The Red River basin today is a vibrant economic area of ​​the economic corridor "Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh" within the initiative "Two corridors, one economic belt" proposed by the two countries in 2004. Therefore, the formation of the Forum of Principals of the Red River Basin is truly meaningful!
It is a playground and an opportunity for universities in Vietnam and China in the Red River basin to exchange and cooperate in the fields of cutting-edge scientific research, high-quality education and training, and to create intellectual resources and train talents to serve the development of the two countries. At the same time, we can join hands and contribute to nurturing the historical - cultural - economic Red River to flow forever into the future, bringing prosperity to our two countries." The 5th conference attracted a large number of representatives from member universities of both countries, including 24 universities and 53 delegates. Representatives of the universities gave many presentations and speeches to share their experiences in training and research cooperation in recent years and some feasible ideas for the coming years. All opinions agreed on the principles of cooperation: top quality; training high-quality talents; regular and periodic exchange of students and staff; associated with serving the socio-economic development of the Red River basin. The conference also witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Yunnan University; University of Commerce and Honghe Academy. Based on discussion and consensus, the Conference unanimously agreed to nominate the University of Social Sciences and Humanities as the next rotating host and the organization time is 2025. Prof. Ho Kim Minh, Vice President of VNU, presented the rotating flag of the Forum to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh, the representative of the 6th rotating host. On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh announced the Action Plan for the term 2024 - 2025. In particular, the main activities of the term 2024 - 2025 are as follows:
Year 2024:Organize a Conference of Heads of Training, International Cooperation and Science Management Departments of universities in the Red River basin. It is expected that Thai Nguyen University, Vietnam will host the Conference of Heads of Departments. The tasks of this Conference include: preparing for the 6th Forum Conference in 2025 in Vietnam and proposing that the school take turns hosting the 7th Conference in 2027 in China; developing a Student Summer Camp mechanism and planning to build a Red River Scholarship Fund; developing a credit recognition mechanism; developing a project to improve the level of academic Vietnamese and academic Chinese; developing a Research - Seminar - Publication mechanism; developing a Scientific Research Award mechanism, etc.
Year 2025:Organize the 6th Conference of the Rectors' Forum of Universities in the Red River Basin in 2025 at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi. The tasks of this 6th Forum Conference include: Admitting new members; summarizing and exhibiting achievements for the 2024-2025 term; awarding scientific research awards; planning to organize an international scientific conference with the theme "Vietnam - China Cooperation in the first quarter of the 21st century: Current status and prospects"...