As many as 28 Vietnamese young leaders will embark on a 52-day voyage with their regional peers with the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) from October 23 to December 13.

As many as 28 Vietnamese young leaders will embark on a 52-day voyage with their regional peers with the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) from October 23 to December 13.

They are among more than 300 youths from the 10 ASEAN countries and Japan who will visit Japan, Brunei, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam during the 45th voyage aboard the vessel Nippon Maru.

First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee Le Quoc Quan held a meeting with the Vietnamese young delegates in Hanoi on October 18.

Quan, also Chairman of the Vietnam Youth Federation’s Central Committee, said he expects the 28 young leaders will show confidence and amplify their strengths in communication and foreign language skills as well as social knowledge to leave their mark on the journey.

As ambassadors of more than 25 million youths across Vietnam, they need to be well-prepared and do their best to promote the beauty of Vietnam, he urged.

Le Hong Hoang, head of the Vietnamese youth delegation, said as 2018 marks the 45th anniversary of Vietnam – Japan diplomatic ties and the 45th year of SSEAYP, the delegation selected the theme “Embracing Vietnam” this year to not only “embrace” and promote the essence of Vietnam among international friends but also demonstrate a desire to use what they learn from the journey to improve their homeland. 

The SSEAYP is an annual youth exchange programme organised by the Cabinet Office of Japan and governments of Southeast Asian nations since 1974. 

The journey aims to promote friendship among the youths of participating countries, broaden their perspective of the world and strengthen their spirit and skills for international cooperation.

It is expected to cultivate youths capable of exercising leadership skills in various fields in the global society and to contribute to society in youth development. The participants will discuss social and youth matters and take part in various exchange activities both on board and in the countries to be visited. –VNA