Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shots of Hanoi Opera House
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 1/ending with shots 3-5):
"In November 2017, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture invited me and my wife to perform for the leaders of the two countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, as part of China-Vietnam exchanges."

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - Dec 12, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of people waving flags to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping
4. Chinese President Xi Jinping waving

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - Nov 12, 2017 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Xi speaking

Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Dong Quang Vinh playing flute
7. Vinh's wife Mo Shuangshuang playing piano
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 7/ending with shots 9-10):
"In 2017 and 2023, when President Xi twice visited Vietnam, we performed this musical piece of 'The Wild Geese'. This was the first time I exchanged with Chinese artists after graduating from Shanghai and returning to Vietnam, so I wanted to share this beautiful memory with President Xi."
9. Vinh playing flute, Mo playing piano
10. Photos of Vinh with family, musicians
11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 10):
"As soon as the performance started, President Xi was very absorbed. He listened very intently with a smile. It seemed like he didn't want to miss any part."
12. Various of Vinh playing flute, Mo playing piano
13. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 12/ending with shot 14):
"After the performance, President Xi came up and shook hands with every artist. I felt he is a very warm and clement person."

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
14. Various of music score, Vinh conducting ensemble of musicians

Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
15. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 14/partially overlaid with shots 16-20):
"Before I met with President Xi, I always thought he was an unreachable figure on TV, and I felt like I would be just a child in front of him. But it wasn't like that. He gave me a very warm feeling, and I didn't feel nervous anymore. When we shook hands, he spoke to me very naturally, asking me how I felt about studying at the conservatory. He also knew that my wife's name is Mo Shuangshuang who studies composition. So overall, I was surprised, because as a president of a country, he had to take care of many major matters, yet he could even remember our family stories."

++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - Dec 12, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
16. Xi waving

Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
17. Figurines of Vinh's family
18. Vinh working
19. Photo of Vinh, wife
20. Vinh talking with wife
++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
21. Aerial shots of cityscape

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
22. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 21/ending with shot 23):
"My wife was beside me. He knew that we are a composer and a conductor, so he told us to write more songs and contribute to the friendship between China and Vietnam. Actually, his words just covered what I'm doing."
23. Traffic passing by Dong Xuan market
24. Various of Vinh conducting ensemble of musicians

Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
25. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 24):
"Music brings people together and often doesn't need any words. As long as a melody starts, it will inspire an emotional bond, bringing the two countries to embrace each other."

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
26. Various of Vinh conducting ensemble of musicians

FILE: Shanghai, China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
27. Various of cityscape, people

Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
28. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shots 26-27):
"I once studied in China and have a Chinese wife. I consider China my second home. Seeing China's rising status in the world over the years, I feel like it's my family that is growing in strength and progress."

FILE: Liping County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, southwest China - March 17, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
29. Various of performance of grand song of Dong ethnic group; Xi walking, watching performance with others, waving to villagers

Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
30. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shots 29/partially overlaid with shots 31-36):
"Chinese leaders show great support for art as they know that art is a part of culture and culture is the root of a country, not to mention China's indigenous art heritage, such as Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, acrobatics, and dance. Many Chinese violinists and singers are becoming influential in the world. Chinese symphony orchestras are also developing very fast. China has a history of several thousand years and boasts a very developed culture. With President Xi in office, it has reached a new level. President Xi is very decisive and down-to-earth. He is ahead of the curve in many aspects, which is very admirable."

++SHOTS OVERLYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
31. Various of Chinese symphony orchestra performing
32. Various of Chinese dancers performing
33. Chinese symphony orchestra performing
34. Various of Peking Opera performance
35. Various of group dance performance, spectators
36. Various of Xi watching performances, talking with performers
++SHOTS OVERLYING SOUNDBITE++

FILE: Vietnam - Exact Location and Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
37. Aerial shot of bridge

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
38. Various of Vinh conducting ensemble of musicians

Hanoi, Vietnam - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
39. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Quang Vinh, principal conductor, Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (starting with shot 38/partially overlaid with shots 40-45):
"This year is quite special, as it marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam and also the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges. When President Xi visited Vietnam in 2023, he told some stories about past China-Vietnam relations. I'm not surprised that such an outstanding president can talk about the history and stories of other countries, but I did not expect that he analyzed each story so thoroughly and went much deeper into each than I thought. He also mentioned that he knew the Vietnamese people love China's 'Four Great Classical Novels' very much, and can hum the melodies [of plays based on these novels]. So we look to further promote the 'Four Great Classical Chinese Novels' in Vietnam. If we perform for President Xi this time, we may choose pieces adapted from these literature masterpieces. We believe these melodies will surely receive the attention and applause of the two countries."

++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - Dec 12, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
40. People waving national flags of China, Vietnam

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - Dec 13, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
41. Xi speaking
42. Board saying "Meeting of representatives of youths and friendly personages from China and Vietnam"
43. Xi speaking

FILE: Vietnam - Exact Location and Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
44. Aerial shots of cityscape, people on bridge

FILE: Hanoi, Vietnam - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
45. Various of Vinh conducting ensemble of musicians
++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++

A Vietnamese conductor, who studied in China for nine years and was hailed a musician connecting the friendship between China and Vietnam, told of his encounters with Chinese President Xi Jinping and deep impression about the Chinese leader's personal charm.

Dong Quang Vinh, a principal conductor at the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet, played a Chinese folk song for Chinese President Xi Jinping during his 2017 and 2023 tours to the Southeast Asian country.

Dong Quang Vinh was born in 1984. He is an experienced young conductor with years of conducting top orchestras in China and Vietnam. Hailing from a family of traditional music, he is also a soloist on different types of traditional music instruments and has been invited to give performances on various international stages since age 12.

In 2004 he was sent by the Vietnam government to study orchestral conducting at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and was awarded the most distinguished student scholarship by the China National Foundation. He obtained a master's degree in 2013 with highest scores and returned to Vietnam to serve his home country.

"In November 2017, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture invited me and my wife to perform for the leaders of the two countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, as part of China-Vietnam exchanges," Vinh said.

"In 2017 and 2023, when President Xi twice visited Vietnam, we performed this musical piece of 'The Wild Geese'. This was the first time I exchanged with Chinese artists after graduating from Shanghai and returning to Vietnam, so I wanted to share this beautiful memory with President Xi," he said.

The Vietnamese musician talked about his first impression about the Chinese president.

"As soon as the performance started, President Xi was very absorbed. He listened very intently with a smile. It seemed like he didn't want to miss any part," Vinh said.

Dong Quang Vinh shared his different views before and after meeting with President Xi.

"Before I met with President Xi, I always thought he was an unreachable figure on TV, and I felt like I would be just a child in front of him. But it wasn't like that. He gave me a very warm feeling, and I didn't feel nervous anymore. When we shook hands, he spoke to me very naturally, asking me how I felt about studying at the conservatory. He also knew that my wife's name is Mo Shuangshuang who studies composition. So overall, I was surprised, because as a president of a country, he had to take care of many major matters, yet he could even remember our family stories," he said.

During the encounter, Xi urged the couple to make more contributions to China-Vietnam friendship.

"My wife was beside me. He knew that we are a composer and a conductor, so he told us to write more songs and contribute to the friendship between China and Vietnam. Actually, his words just covered what I'm doing. Music brings people together and often doesn't need any words. As long as a melody starts, it will inspire an emotional bond, bringing the two countries to embrace each other," Dong Quang Vinh said.

The Vietnamese conductor said China is his second hometown, and he admires the Chinese government's strong support for culture.

"I once studied in China and have a Chinese wife. I consider China my second home. Seeing China's rising status in the world over the years, I feel like it's my family that is growing in strength and progress," he said.

"Chinese leaders show great support for art as they know that art is a part of culture and culture is the root of a country, not to mention China's indigenous art heritage, such as Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, acrobatics, and dance. Many Chinese violinists and singers are becoming influential in the world. Chinese symphony orchestras are also developing very fast. China has a history of several thousand years and boasts a very developed culture. With President Xi in office, it has reached a new level. President Xi is very decisive and down-to-earth. He is ahead of the curve in many aspects, which is very admirable," he continued.

Xi will pay a state visit to Vietnam from April 14 to 15. The trip coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam, two socialist neighbors that have forged an enduring bond as "comrades and brothers".

"This year is quite special, as it marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam and also the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges. When President Xi visited Vietnam in 2023, he told some stories about past China-Vietnam relations. I'm not surprised that such an outstanding president can talk about the history and stories of other countries, but I did not expect that he analyzed each story so thoroughly and went much deeper into each than I thought. He also mentioned that he knew the Vietnamese people love China's 'Four Great Classical Novels' very much, and can hum the melodies [of plays based on these novels]. So we look to further promote the 'Four Great Classical Chinese Novels' in Vietnam. If we perform for President Xi this time, we may choose pieces adapted from these literature masterpieces. We believe these melodies will surely receive the attention and applause of the two countries," said Dong Quang Vinh.

The "Four Great Classical Novels" refers to four masterpieces, including "Journey to the West", "Outlaws of the Marsh", "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", and "Dream of the Red Mansion" written during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1912). Throughout the centuries, these novels have permeated Chinese culture and been represented in art, film, drama, and more.