Southeast Asian and Japanese youth ship docks in Vietnam

More than 300 young people from Southeast Asian countries and Japan aboard the Ship for the Southeast Asian Young Programme (SSEAYP) docked in Ho Chi Minh City on November 17 as part of their 40-day trip to explore participating countries.

Illustrative image (Photo:tienphong.vn)

Over five days in Ho Chi Minh City, the delegates will visit historical sites and have a chance to live with local families to better understand Vietnamese people's lifestyle and culture.

Addressing the welcome ceremony, Nguyen Long Hai, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, stressed that Vietnam always highly appreciates the significance of the SSEAYP in building and strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the young people of Japan and Southeast Asia.

SSEAYP is a regional youth exchange programme, drawing the participation of the ten ASEAN member countries and Japan.

Established in 1974 following the initiative of the governments of Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand; the programme helps to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between the youth of the participating countries.

This year’s SSEAYP draws the participation of 322 members from ten ASEAN members and Japan, 29 delegates of which are representing Vietnam.

The ship started its journey on November 5 from Tokyo, Japan, docking in the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia. It is expected to return to Tokyo, Japan on December 16.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)