A programme entitled “ Vietnam – China : Close Neighbours” was broadcast live on Dec.14 to celebrate the long-lasting friendship between the two countries.

The first of its kind, the Tele-show was made at the Hanoi Cultural Friendship Palace and the Guangxi Television Studio.

Through moving stories demonstrating the close ties between two sides, it conveyed the message that Vietnam and China would move towards peace and prosperity together.

During 1949, at the request of China , Vietnam sent an army to assist in the One Hundred Thousand Great Mountains military campaign in Guangxi to fight Chiang Kai-shek’s army. The bravery of Vietnamese soldiers contributed to the victory of the People’s Liberation Army, which led to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on October 1 the same year.

When Vietnam underwent turmoil between 1965-69 in the American War, many young Chinese came to Vietnam to work at construction sites in northern localities including Thai Nguyen Province and Hai Phong City , braving the hardships for the benefit of independence.

Such memories were still vivid in the mind of these Chinese, now in their 70s.

“Eventhough I’m 100 per cent Chinese, half of my heart belongs to Viet Nam ,” one man said./.