Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the ASEANLeaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth via a video conferenceon June 26 as part of the 36th ASEAN Summit.
In his opening speech, PM Phuc, who is Chair of ASEAN 2020, expressed his belief that the youth will play a crucial role in successfully building a prosperous ASEANCommunity.
He attributed the ASEAN’s achievements over the past more thanhalf of century to common efforts of all people, including the youth who accountfor one third of the regional population, saying that their passion,creativity and entrepreneurship provide an invaluable resource for the ASEANCommunity to gradually overcome difficulties.
The PM also called on the youth to continue upholding the spirit ofpatriotism, partner with ASEAN governments and people to effectively cope withnegative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He wished that they would be more activeand take the vanguard in common activities and priorities of the Community, aswell as popularise the images of the bloc.
Lauding the ASEAN youth cooperation and joint work between ASEANand partners over the past years, the leader applauded the key priorities that the youth are promoting this year and committed all possible support for them toactively contribute to the society.
As Chair of ASEAN Youth, First Secretary of the Ho Chi MinhCommunist Youth Union Central Committee and Chairman of the Committee on Youthof Vietnam Le Quoc Phong said the governments of ASEAN member states have always paidattention to the development of the youth over the past years with the issuance of relevantlaws, policies and strategies, creating favourable conditions for them to havejobs and grow in the spirit of leaving no one behind.
The ASEAN youth development index has considerablyimproved over the past time with criteria on education, health, employment,start-ups and youth participation in social affairs, he said.
With nearly 220 million young people, or about 30 percent of the ASEAN population, Phong affirmed that the youth are a key force in contributing tosocio-economic development and ceaseless growth of the ASEAN Community.
Youthrepresentatives also submitted their declaration to ASEAN leaders at themeeting.
Following the event, the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with ASEAN Business AdvisoryCouncil was also held./.
