Establishment of Vietnam Studies Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, China

On the morning of December 22, 2016, the establishment ceremony of the Vietnam Research Center was held at Beijing Foreign Studies University, China. Attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Van Chieu, Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing, Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Nga, Second Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing. On the side of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, there were Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Rector of the University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Vice Rector. Beijing Foreign Studies University had Rector Peng Long and Vice Rector Yan Guo Hua in attendance.

The Vietnam Research Center is a Center jointly established by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Beijing Foreign Studies University. President Pham Quang Minh and President Peng Long had a talk about the cooperation possibilities between the two schools, about the construction and development of the Vietnam Research Center and signed a cooperation agreement "Establishing a Vietnam Research Center between Beijing Foreign Studies University and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU".

Previously, on September 13, 2016, Mr. Phung Xuan Nha, Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam and Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU visited the school and proposed the establishment of the Vietnam Research Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, hoping that the establishment of the Vietnam Research Center would enhance cultural exchanges between Vietnam and China; enhance cooperation in Vietnamese language training and research on Vietnamese culture; and train experts and scholars to research on Vietnam. The two sides agreed on the direction of cooperation, hoping to jointly build the Vietnam Research Center into a leading research unit. The Chinese Ministry of Education strongly supports the establishment of the Center. In November 2016, Vice Rector YAN GUO HUA led a delegation to visit Vietnam, once again discussing the establishment of the Center with Vice Rector Hoang Anh Tuan.

The Vietnam Research Center is located at the Asia-Africa Institute. The Center will focus on language, culture and regional studies to promote cultural exchanges between the people of Vietnam and China. President Peng Long expressed his hope that the establishment of the Vietnam Research Center will strengthen the cooperative relationship with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in areas such as exchange of research materials, teaching and exchange of lecturers and students.

Beijing Foreign Studies University is one of the leading key universities in China, founded in 1954, with foreign language training as its strength, among the 72 foreign languages ​​officially taught in the school. Vietnamese is highly valued and has been taught very early (1961). Beijing Foreign Studies University is also the cradle of many diplomatic cadres for China and the world. Up to now, the school has trained nearly 500 Chinese and international ambassadors.