Vietnam will send a 29-member delegation to attend the 2009 Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP), slated for October 28 to December 18.

According to the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, the SSEAYP will open with exchange activities in Tokyo, Japan from Oct. 28-Dec. 6. Then, it will go on a tour of Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, wrapping up the trip back in Japan.

At each stop, SSEAYP members will meet Governmental representatives, young people and residents, visit offices and factories, and tour the local sites.

This year’s programme, the 36th of its kind so far, will be held under the theme “Youth participation in social activities”.

Discussions among participants will focus on cultural understanding, the environment, international relations, education, traditional culture, volunteerism and youth development at the community level.

They will analyse the role of young people in socio-economic development in each country with the aim of boosting youth participation in communication activities.

The Vietnamese delegation plans to hold a “Day of Vietnam” onboard the ship on Dec. 6.

SSEAYP is an annual programme sponsored by the Japanese Government and supported by the member-countries of ASEAN. It brings together about 300 youths from ASEAN countries and Japan, providing them with the unique opportunity to interact on board the ship Fuji Maru and at different ports-of-call for 53 days.

SSEAYP started in January 1974 based on Joint Statements issued between Japan and the five ASEAN countries at that time, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei joined in 1985. Vietnam participated in the programme in 1996 while Laos and Myanmar participated in 1998. Cambodia joined the programme in 2000.

The aim of SSEAYP is to foster friendship and greater understanding among young people from Japan and ASEAN. It also seeks to broaden their international outlook./.