by Wang Di, Bui Long

HANOI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Ten Vietnamese girls in red costumes holding red lanterns danced gracefully here on Sunday, kicking off a cultural exchange activity between Chinese and Vietnamese youths.

Although Chinese educator and philosopher Confucius was born thousands years ago, his ideas have been preserved and brought into play, with wide application in contemporary Vietnam, Vietnamese officials, scholars and students said during the exchange held at Hanoi University.

The thoughts and actions of Vietnamese people have been more or less affected by Confucianism whose fine values have been preserved and passed from generations to generations not only in China, but also in the Orient, Do Nam Trung, vice head of the Department of Northeast Asian Affairs under the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said when addressing the exchange event.

Cultural exchanges should be mainly made by youths who help pass the evergreen friendship between Vietnam and China from generations to generations, Trung said, noting that "similarities in culture is an important factor in enhancing mutual understanding and developing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries."

"Now, fine values of Confucianism still remain and are applied in various spheres in Vietnam," including management and administration because Confucius emphasized good social order and harmonization of various kinds of people by observing rituals of propriety, he told Xinhua.

Nguyen Thi Cuc Phuong, vice rector of Hanoi University, agreed that "Confucianism is still suitable to life of people, especially students, in the modern time."

"The Confucius Institute at the Hanoi University annually sends 30 Vietnamese grade students and university students to China to attend summer camps there. Culture is the most effective bridge of nations and peoples," she said when addressing the event.

Do Thanh Van, head of the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University, told Xinhua on Sunday that "Confucius encouraged people not only to be studious, but also to live in harmony with others, which is still useful in a modern society which requires broad and deep knowledge, and features a fast paced life."

Pham Van Duc, president of Vietnam's Graduate Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua recently that because Confucianism centers on respecting and promoting morality, kindness, righteousness, and harmony, among others, it can be applied to not only individuals, but also companies to enhance corporate social responsibility.

"I think that promoting fine values of Confucianism among individuals will bring about good benefits for at least themselves, their families and their workplaces," Duc said.

Many Vietnamese people, especially students told Xinhua on Sunday that profound values of Confucianism have good impact on their daily life, so they should be promoted on the basis of the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation between Vietnam and China.

"I want Vietnam and China to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on films, televisions, music, and literature, so that more works relating to Confucius and Confucianism will be made and translated into Vietnamese," said Nguyen Van Chung, a freshman at the Information-Library Department of Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Ngo Thu Phuong, a fourth-year student at the Chinese Department of Hanoi University, said "I'm a member of a dance group at the Confucius Institute. I love all spheres of Chinese culture. I want to visit more Chinese localities, including Qufu, the hometown of Confucius."

Confucius founded Confucianism, a school of thought that deeply influenced later generations. He was also the first Chinese person to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life.

Confucianism has laid a firm foundation for cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Vietnam, and partly due to it, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and among nations in the region will further develop, Peng Shituan, cultural counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, said when addressing the exchange on Sunday. Enditem

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