Hanoi (VNA) - The Dialogue Forum on Youth and 2020 ASEAN Community tookplace online on November 24, discussing youth development policies and relatedtrends and issues facing ASEAN member states.

Organised by Vietnam’s Ministry of Home Affairs, the forumgathered representatives from ASEAN members’ State agencies in charge of youngpeople affairs and the ASEAN Secretariat.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs TranAnh Tuan said Vietnam and other ASEAN member nations highly value the role ofyouth in the building, integration, and connectivity of the ASEAN Community,saying they are important human resources, particularly in enhancing solidarityand friendship regionally and globally.

This is the third time Vietnam has organised the forum since2011, he said, which aims to promote the role and creativity of young people inaddressing national and regional issues and to propose ideas and policies toboost living standards of youth and all people in the ASEAN Community as awhole . The forum also created an opportunity for the exchange of culture andpolicy making and the sharing of experience between participants.

Rodora T. Babaran, Director of Human Development at the ASEANSecretariat’s ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department, praised Vietnam’seffort in holding the forum amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Babaran said young people play an important role in thestrategy for the formation of the ASEAN Community and are a priority in themaking of policy in the bloc and its member states.

ASEAN is home to 220 million young people, who account forone-third of its population. The bloc recently built a youth action plan for2021-2025 and a youth development index. 

Babaran suggested policies be issued that encourage youthstart-ups in different sectors, adding that increasing young people’sengagement in socio-economic matters and raising their awareness about ASEANare also needed. 

Participants discussed bloc members’ current situationregarding building and implementing policies regarding youth, in terms ofeducation and training, healthcare, start-ups and job creation, and volunteerwork. 

They took the occasion to share experience in handlingyouth-related issues and make recommendations on ensuring the rights andinterests of youth in the region and to optimise their participation intackling socio-economic matters./.