A campaign calling on youngsters to promote their role in defending the nation’s sea and island sovereignty was launched in the northern port city of Hai Phong on June 6.

The three-month campaign will also encourage young people to take an active part in building new-style rural areas, especially in the Northwestern, Central Highlands and Southwestern regions, some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country.

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, the initiator of the programme, took this occasion to present gifts to former voluntary force members and relatives of coast guards and fisheries surveillance officials who are carrying out their law enforcement missions in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

First Secretary of the union, Nguyen Dac Vinh, said the launching ceremony will be followed by a wide range of activities looking towards to the nation’s seas and islands, such as building flagpoles confirming sovereignty at six outpost islands, accompanying young fishermen offshore, and supporting fishermen with essential equipment.

A youth team of 80 members stayed at the Bach Long Vi island district on June 5-6 to build a flagpole there. They also supported young islanders to do business and took part in an art exchange with soldiers and residents.-VNA