The 3rd Vietnam Coast Guard-China Coast Guard Young Officer Exchange: Gala Night "Joining hands to protect the marine environment"

On the evening of August 24, within the framework of the 3rd Vietnam Coast Guard - China Coast Guard Young Officers Exchange Program in 2023, a Gala night with the theme "Joining hands to protect the marine environment" took place at the Coast Guard Command. The program was attended by Major General Le Quang Dao - Commander of Vietnam Coast Guard, Lieutenant General Bui Quoc Oai - Political Commissar of Vietnam Coast Guard and representatives of leaders and commanders of agencies and units inside and outside the army.

This is the highlight activity of the 3rd Vietnam - China Coast Guard Young Officer Exchange Program with lively and attractive content, highlighting the spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation of the youth of the two countries' Coast Guards.

The Chief of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command attended the exchange program and encouraged young Coast Guard officers of the two countries. Photo: TUAN HUY

The military artists performed art performances praising the everlasting friendship between Vietnam and China, the close neighborly relationship, the tradition of the two countries' armies, and the solidarity between the youth and the young people of the two countries. At the exchange night, young officers of the two countries' Coast Guards sang two majestic and proud military songs of the Vietnam People's Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army, "Marching under the Military Flag" and "March of the Chinese People's Liberation Army".

Singing and dancing performances praising Vietnam-China solidarity and the traditions of the two countries' armies. Photo: TUAN HUY

The Gala Night emphasized the interest of the leaders of the two countries in promoting cooperation between the Coast Guard forces of the two countries; affirmed the effective cooperative relationship, the importance of solidarity and attachment between the two forces with the core role of the "bridge" of the youth of the Coast Guard of Vietnam and China. Thereby, contributing to strongly promoting the goal of building a peaceful, stable, friendly, cooperative, developed sea and keeping the marine environment clean; preserving and developing the friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two States, and the two Armies.

Delegates attending the Gala night program. Photo: TUAN HUY.

Speaking at the opening of the Gala night, Major General Tran Van Xuan, Deputy Commissar and Political Director of the Vietnam Coast Guard, Head of the delegation of young officers of the Vietnam Coast Guard, said that the exchange program had gone through 4 days with meaningful and interesting activities, achieving many good results. “We can clearly feel the youthfulness, solidarity, friendship and creativity of the young people. The spirit of openness, enthusiasm, frank and sincere sharing and the solidarity of the comrades made the atmosphere of the exchange days truly a festival of youth and friendship, a bridge of affection, a valuable opportunity to exchange and share experiences between the youth of the two countries' Coast Guards”, Major General Tran Van Xuan emphasized.

"Friendship" competition of 3 teams. Photo: TUAN HUY

At the Gala night, young officers of the Coast Guard of the two countries competed in two sections named “Friendship” and “Cooperation”, demonstrating the spirit of fun, usefulness and practicality of the exchange program in general and the Gala night in particular. The “playground” imbued with friendship challenged the knowledge and understanding of the young officers about the revolutionary traditions, history, culture of the two countries, the two Coast Guard forces, knowledge about the sea and ocean, and protection of the marine environment; challenged their eloquence on the topics: Joining hands to respond to climate change, protecting the marine environment; promoting cooperation activities in search and rescue at sea; and promoting the role of the people in protecting the marine environment. 12 members were randomly drawn from the two groups of young officers and divided into 3 teams: “Going Out to Sea”, “Crossing the Waves” and “Arriving at the Dock”. Each team consisted of 2 Vietnamese officers and 2 Chinese officers.

In the "Cooperation" competition, the teams competed in the form of eloquence. Photo: TUAN HUY

Through the exciting competitions, the 3 teams clearly demonstrated the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, affirming the intelligence, bravery and desire to contribute of the youth of the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Chinese Coast Guard, joining hands to respond to common challenges at sea. The competitions left good impressions on the audience about the image of young officers of the two countries' Coast Guards being dynamic, creative and united together. Sharing at the Gala night, the audience said that all 3 teams deserved to win because they all demonstrated their talent, professional knowledge and eloquence on global issues. At the end of the competitions, the Organizing Committee awarded symbolic prizes: Style, Impression and Solidarity to the teams.

Awarding the Impression, Style, and Solidarity prizes to 3 teams. Photo: TUAN HUY

Captain of the “Arrival” team, Lieutenant Dang Huu Bao Phuc, said that during the preparation for the competitions, the team members actively discussed the topic of public speaking and learned related knowledge, thereby improving their teamwork skills, professional knowledge and close friendship among young colleagues.

Representatives of two groups of young officers read the Letter of Determination. Photo: TUAN HUY

At the exchange night, representatives of young officers of the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard read the Letter of Determination expressing the determination of the youth of the Coast Guard of the two countries in fostering solidarity and friendship between the two countries and peoples in general, and the two Coast Guard forces in particular, as well as joining hands to protect the ocean and the marine environment. Representatives of young officers of the two forces together raised the "determination to jointly preserve and build a peaceful and prosperous adjacent sea area; determination to join hands to protect the marine environment, contributing to creating a sustainable future for our oceans and Earth".

The two heads of delegations signed a banner expressing their determination and commitment to "Join hands to protect the marine environment" and foster solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and China. Photo: TUAN HUY

To leave a memorable mark for the Exchange Program and the special Gala night, the two Heads of the Vietnamese-Chinese Young Officer Delegation, and young officer delegates from the two forces, went on stage to sign the banner, expressing their determination to join hands and contribute to protecting the marine and ocean environment, for the sea between the two countries to be secure and safe, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

The Gala Night program concluded the exciting and practical exchange activities in recent days of the youth of the Coast Guard of the two countries with the belief that the youth of the two forces will continue to have more joint activities, contributing to protecting the marine and ocean environment, widely spreading awareness of protecting the marine environment to the community and the majority of people of the two countries; continuing to actively contribute to promoting solidarity and friendship between the two countries.