Vietnamese youth brought the message “United we stand” to the Japan-ASEAN Youth Leaders’ Summit which opened in Tokyo on October 29, as part of the 39th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP).

Japanese Senior Vice Minister of Cabinet Office, Kiyoshige Maekawa said the SSEAYP offered a good chance for young people in the region to deepen mutual understanding for peace and prosperity. He said he hopes that over 300 youths participating in the event will continue joining hands to build a firm foundation for the friendship between Japan and ASEAN in the 21 st century.

Speaking on behalf of ASEAN countries, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung said that Vietnam and other ASEAN countries value the significance of the programme. He affirmed that young people will play a central role in promoting a dynamic regional cooperation.

The SSAYP is a cooperation project between Japan and ASEAN, which bring young people from Japan and Southeast Asian countries together for a sea journey to boost the solidarity and friendship between youngsters in the region. It was first organised by the Japanese government and ASEAN in 1974. Vietnam joined the annual programme in 1996.

This year, the SSEAYP started on October 23 and will run until December 14. During days on board, over 300 youths are scheduled to visit five ASEAN countries of Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.-VNA