Vietnam pledges the best possible conditions for its adolescents and young people to enjoy their rights and fulfil their obligations in accordance with law, an official from the Ministry of Health said on July 10.

General Director of the ministry’s General Office for Population and Family Planning Duong Quoc Trong made the remark at a meeting in the central province of Khanh Hoa to mark the World Population Day (July 11), themed “Investing in young people”.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Chief Representative in Vietnam Arthur Erken said there are some 1.8 billion people in the so-called youth group (10-to-24 age range) in the world, accounting for around one quarter of the global population.

Appropriate investment and attention will help the young people fully realise their potential as citizens, leaders, and those who bring positive changes to the world, he noted, adding that UNFPA calls on all Governments to include new goals for young people in their post-2015 development programmes.

Vietnam is in a golden population period which will last until 2040 with nearly 40 percent of its population between 10 and 24 years old, an all-time high.

This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the country to push up its socio-economic growth by providing equal attention for all population groups and empowering the young to fully realise their potential, Erken added.

After the meeting, participants joined a workshop on population and family planning issues.-VNA