VietNamnet Bridge - This morning US President Obama talks with over 800 members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in Vietnam at the GEM Center in HCM City.

US President Barack Obama met and talked with more than 800 young people at the Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in Ho Chi Minh City on May 25.

He said his idea on establishing the YSEALI three years ago was aimed at empowering young people with skills, resources and the network they need to turn their ideas into action.

The President also said that he saw much of Vietnam’s potential in its young leaders, many of them have contributed greatly to social activities and the community.

Obama answered many questions from the audience concerning heritage and heritage preservation, environmental protection and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

The President also expressed his hope that after leaving the White House, he can continue connecting and injecting enthusiasm into the young people; deepening the bond among young leaders of different countries and promoting the relations between young leaders of the US and Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

Launched in 2013, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia.

Through a variety of programs and engagements, including U.S. educational and cultural exchanges, regional exchanges, and seed funding, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture an ASEAN community.

YSEALI focuses on critical topics identified by youth in the region: civic engagement, environment and natural resources management, and entrepreneurship and economic development.

Approximately 65% of people in the ASEAN region are under the age of 35. YSEALI is an effort to harness the extraordinary potential of youth in the region to address critical challenges and expand opportunities.

The YSEALI community consists of bright young leaders, 18–35 years old, from Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam who are making a difference in their communities, countries, and the region.

When U.S. President Barack Obama was young, he started out as a community organizer ensuring people in his community received job training and help in getting a university degree.

He knows from personal experience that young people can be powerful agents for good in their communities. YSEALI carries on President Obama’s legacy by fostering community leadership among youth in ASEAN member countries.

Hundreds of young people queued in front of the GEM Center for the meeting with the US president on May 25 morning. Hundreds of people also stood along the road in front of the GEM Center to see the US president.   The roads around GEM Center like Nguyen Binh Khiem, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, and Nguyen Dinh Chieu were also packed with thousands of people.                 The US President's car left the hotel to GEM Center at 10.30am.          President Obama entered the meeting hall at 11.10am.         The President during the talks.

The talks ended at 11.40am.

Thanh Lan