Representatives of the ASEAN delegations are presented with Vietnamese souvenirs (Photo: tuoitre.vn) An ASEAN youth forum highlighting the bloc’s cultural identities opened in Ho Chi Minh City on September 18.
Participants from seven bloc members – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam – were at first equipped with overall knowledge on building an ASEAN Community (AC) and integration impacts on national culture.
They will discuss a range of topics covering ASEAN cultural values and relevant preservation initiatives.
Pham Thi Bich Uyen, a student from Ho Chi Minh City National University, voiced her hope that young people across the region will join hands to protect their national cultures and learn about other countries’ values, thus forming a close-knitted AC.
Running from September 17-19, the forum also features a photo exhibition that promotes traditional custom and costumes as well as popular destinations of ASEAN nations.
The event is organised by the municipal chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.-VNA
