From October 12 to 26, a delegation from the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Vietnam is participating in a training course on ethnic governance for Mekong - Lancang countries, held at South-Central University for Nationalities under the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China.

This activity is part of a bilateral cooperation agreement signed in 2023 between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and China’s National Ethnic Affairs Commission.

The Vietnamese delegation includes six members led by Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation.

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The delegation from the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, led by Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, participates in the training course in China. Photo: Department of International Cooperation - Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs

The training course is taking place in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, and is hosted by the South-Central University for Nationalities, directly managed by China’s National Ethnic Affairs Commission.

On October 13, participants attended three lectures: an overview of China’s current national situation, the historical development of the Chinese ethnic communities, and urban governance in China.

On the morning of October 14, two additional lectures are scheduled: Legal protection for national unity and ethnic progress in China, and Theory and practice of urban ethnic integration and communication.

In the afternoon, trainees will visit the Wuhan Citizen Center, where they will explore China’s "one-stop" public service mechanism, urban planning models, and other related governance features.

That evening, they will take a cultural field trip along the Yangtze River, gaining insight into China’s urban development and modernization achievements through a local cultural lens.

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The Vietnamese delegation poses for a souvenir photo with faculty from the South-Central University for Nationalities. Photo: Department of International Cooperation - Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs

On October 15, the delegation will attend an international seminar on ethnic governance, aimed at sharing experiences and contributing to the building of a shared future community among Mekong - Lancang nations.

Side forums will address topics including legal frameworks for ethnic affairs, sustainable development in ethnic minority regions, cultural heritage preservation, and mutual learning between ethnic groups.

From October 16 to 24, trainees will take part in 10 field visits to observe practical models of ethnic governance and policy implementation in China.

The Mekong - Lancang Cooperation (MLC) initiative was first proposed by Thailand in 2012. During the ASEAN - China Summit in November 2014, the Chinese Premier expressed support for the initiative and agreed to explore establishing a cooperation and dialogue mechanism.

The MLC consists of six riparian countries along the Mekong - Lancang River, listed from upstream to downstream: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Vietnam has been an active participant in the MLC from the beginning and has contributed significantly in terms of content and areas of cooperation. To date, 28 projects proposed by Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities have been approved and funded by the Mekong - Lancang Special Fund.

Binh Minh