On the afternoon of March 24, 2025, Mr. Li Guoying, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Water Resources, led a delegation for high-level talks with Mr. Do Duc Duy, Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Environment, along with leaders of relevant departments in irrigation and disaster prevention. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hue, Party Secretary and Chairman of the University Council of Thuyloi University, also joined the meeting alongside ministry lead
Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy and leaders of units held talks with the working delegation of the Ministry of Water Resources of the PRC
In the speech to the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Minister Li Guoying praised the longstanding water resources cooperation between China and Vietnam, stating that the visit was both a reflection on past achievements and a means to further strengthen bilateral relations.
“Our common goal is to serve the people and ensure social welfare. China has always upheld the principle of shared harmony in water resources management,” he emphasized.
Minister Li expressed his personal sentiments during his first-ever visit to Thuyloi University — a place originally designed and supported by engineers from China’s North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power. As a former student of the North China University himself, he shared how familiar and moved he felt visiting a sister institution in Vietnam.
He pledged to direct relevant Chinese agencies to deepen collaboration with Vietnam and committed to sharing the warmth and respect he experienced during this special visit with future generations of Chinese water resources professionals.
The delegation of the Ministry of Water Resources of the PRC took photo with Minister Do Duc Duy and leaders of state management agencies, institutes and schools of the water sector of Vietnam
Earlier that day, on the morning of March 24, within the framework of his working trip to Vietnam, Minister Li also visited and worked with Thuyloi University. The meeting was not only an opportunity for the two sides to exchange experiences but also opened up many new cooperation opportunities in the fields of training, scientific research and technology development in the water sector.
Leaders of TLU received a delegation from the Ministry of Water Resources of the PRC
Prof. Dr. Trinh Minh Thu, President of Thuyloi University, warmly welcomed the Minister and delegation. He emphasized the deep historical ties between the university and Chinese partners, especially in its formative years:
“Thuyloi University has long-standing collaboration with leading Chinese institutions such as Wuhan University, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Hohai University, the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, and river basin commissions such as Yangtze and Pearl River Commissions. Many of our early faculty were Chinese professors, and several of our Vietnamese alumni received advanced training in China,” said President Trinh Minh Thu.
Prof. Trinh Minh Thu speaks at the meeting
Currently, the University has about 40 staff and lecturers who have been well-trained at prestigious universities in China, continuing to contribute to the development of the university.
During the meeting, Thuyloi University proposed three main directions for future cooperation:
• Training and developing human resources in the irrigation/water sector through lecturer and student exchange programs and joint training programs with major training institutions in China
• Cooperating in scientific research in the fields of water resources management, disaster prevention, climate change adaptation, environment and advanced technology transfer to develop sustainable solutions.
• Co-organizing international scientific conferences, academic exchanges, enhancing professional exchanges to understand each other and jointly proposing cooperation projects in areas of both sides' strengths.
Minister Li congratulated Thuyloi University on its 65th anniversary and acknowledged its contributions to the development of Vietnam’s water resources sector: “I’ve seen that nearly every major water project in Vietnam carries the legacy of Thuyloi University graduates. This speaks volumes about the university’s significance,” he remarked.
He also highlighted the important role educational cooperation plays in strengthening ties between the two countries, noting that many Vietnamese students have studied in China, gained essential technical skills, and returned to make meaningful contributions in Vietnam. “These talented students have become a strong bridge for China-Vietnam relations,” he noted.
The Minister expressed his impression of the strategic thinking as well as the development steps of Thuyloi University, especially in international connections, cooperation with enterprises and focusing on practical training. In the context of the world facing major challenges such as climate change and water security, the Minister proposed that the two sides strengthen cooperation in the fields of natural disaster prevention, ecology and water environment, taking advantage of common development potential.
Minister Li speaks at the meeting
At the end of his speech, Minister Li Guoying wished that Thuyloi University will continue to achieve more brilliant achievements in the next 65 years of development.
Mr. Jin Hai, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Water Resources, reaffirmed the long-standing and stable cooperation foundation between both sides. He pledged continued coordination with Thuyloi University to implement joint initiatives in the water sector.
In addition, Mr. Jin Hai also informed that the Ministry of Science and Technology of China has a funding fund for cooperation projects between the two countries, and China also has many postgraduate training programs to support the development of high-quality human resources. On this occasion, Mr. Jin Hai informed that the 28th Conference on Large Dams will be held in May 2025 and respectfully invited the leaders of Thuyloi University to attend to exchange and share experiences. During the meeting, former students who studied in China also sent greetings to the delegation, shared memories of their time studying in China and emphasized the value of educational cooperation between the two countries.
Mr. Jin Hai speaks at the meeting
During the visit, Vietnamese alumni who had studied in China welcomed the delegation and reminisced about their experiences, reaffirming the value of educational collaboration.
The working session concluded with both sides agreeing to strengthen ties and bring cooperation plans to life. The meeting marked a new milestone in the partnership between China’s Ministry of Water Resources and Vietnam’s Thuyloi University, aiming toward sustainable development in the water and irrigation sector.
Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation
Photos: Quynh Chi - Agriculture and Environment Newspaper, Department of Political and Student Affairs