The 10th ASEAN Skills Competition will test the know-how and nerves of scores of young competitors from ASEAN nations in Hanoi from October 23-28.

Speaking at a press conference on September 25, Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Ngoc Phi, said Vietnam believed hosting the event was hugely important.

The 1,200-delegate event, including 293 competitors under 22, demonstrated Vietnam and ASEAN's commitment to developing qualified human resources as the ASEAN Economic Community draws closer.

"The issue of vocational training is critical and poses many challenges. A large percentage of families do not want their children to undergo vocational training and instead just want them to go to university for a general education," Phi said.

Cao Van Sam, deputy head of the organising committee for the event and deputy director of Vietnam's Vocational Training Department, said it allowed young people, vocational-training educators and experts from ASEAN nations to come together and exchange ideas on how to develop a skilled labor force.

The competition will test skills in 23 types of vocations, most notably automobile technology, mobile robotics, mechatronics and web design.-VNA