[Demographic Vietnamization: Indochina, Border, Military] Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia strengthen youth cooperation

At the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Youth Cooperation Conference in Ho Chi Minh City on September 8.

Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia strengthen youth cooperation

Nhan Dan | 8 September 2017

NDO – The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) Central Committee held the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Youth Cooperation Conference in Ho Chi Minh City on September 8, with the participation of more than 30 senior youth delegates of the three countries.

The event was among the key activities held in celebration of the 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Amity and Cooperation Treaty, the 55 years of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 50 years of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations. It also aimed to strengthen the friendly solidarity and traditional cooperation between young people of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, thus contributing to fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive collaboration between the three nations. In his remarks, Le Quoc Phong, First Secretary of the HCMCYU Central Committee, stated that the conference took place in the context that exchange and cooperation activities between the HCMCYU, the Laos People’s Revolutionary Youth Union and the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, have been strengthened, both bilaterally and multilaterally, in an effective and extensive fashion. Notably, the HCMCYU has worked actively with the youth union of Laos and Cambodia at multilateral youth forums, such as ASEAN, ASEAN+, the Greater Mekong Subregion Youth Forum and the World Federation of Democratic Youth. At the conference, delegates discussed measures to improve youth education on the history of the traditional friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and to also boost trade cooperation between the three countries’ young businesses. They also shared experiences in supporting young people to begin in business and create startups, whilst debating solutions to improve the efficiency of youth cooperation in voluntary work. Participants emphasised that Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have enjoyed close traditional relations, special solidarity and friendship, and comprehensive cooperation, from the past struggle for national independence to the current national construction and development cause, which is an invaluable asset forged by generations of predecessors. Heads of the three youth delegations agreed to continue strengthening cooperation across the spheres of educating the traditions, supporting young people in entrepreneurship and startup, and boosting coordination in voluntary activities. Under the framework of the conference, youth delegates laid a floral tribute at President Ho Chi Minh Monument and toured historical relic sites across the city, whilst visiting and working with the International University under the Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, and the Saigon Hi-Tech Park. The Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Youth Cooperation Conference debuted in Vietnam in 2014 following the initiative of the HCMCYU Central Committee, and has been held annually and alternately in the three countries since then.