Twenty-two Vietnamese, Australians selected for young leadership dialogue

Sydney (VNA) – Twenty-two young people have been chosen to take part in the 2021 Australia - Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue (AVLD), slated for early September, with each country having 11 delegates.

The selection result was announced at a virtual ceremony on July 6 that attracted representatives of government agencies, universities, enterprises, non-governmental organisations, and press agencies from both countries.

The AVLD organising board said the chosen delegates are aged between 25 and 35 and work in various fields, including health care, agriculture, arts, technology, business, education, tourism, and communications.

This year’s dialogue, scheduled for September 5 - 9, will be held in both in-person and videoconference forms, featuring a wide range of discussions and workshops with famous speakers from the two countries. The Vietnamese representatives will take part in the event in Ho Chi Minh City while their Australian peers will join in Sydney city.

Margaret Beazley, Governor of New South Wales - the sponsor of the 2021 dialogue, said her state is delighted to support young leaders to further enhance the two countries’ relations, especially in the time New South Wales is working to strengthen its cooperation with Vietnam in trade, education, and more importantly, people-to-people exchange.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie, a member of the AVLD’s advisory board, offered congratulations to the chosen delegates and expressed her hope to witness the effects young people will have on the communities in Australia and Vietnam via deeper mutual understanding and stronger cooperation.

On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh said the ones selected for the 2021 AVLD are all excellent individuals who will represent the close-knit ties and friendship between the two countries.

He emphasised that the relations between the Vietnamese and Australian people, especially those between young leaders, will help promote mutual understanding and trust and generate realistic hopes about the common future of Vietnam and Australia.

For her part, Cat Thao Nguyen, co-founder and Chair of the AVLD, said this year’s event is designed to help participants learn more about their role and responsibility in contributing to bilateral ties so that the two countries can work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations./.