ASEAN Secretary-General Urges Youth To Lead The Way
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn | Source: ASEAN / Facebook
Young people represent a significant portion of ASEAN’s population and are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the region's future trajectory.
On April 22, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn emphasized the importance of empowering youth across ASEAN member states, enabling them to harness their skills and drive regional development.
Addressing students at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in Hanoi, the Secretary-General highlighted youth's pivotal role in shaping ASEAN’s future growth.
With ASEAN’s youth population set to peak in 2038, Kao underscored their significance as a major catalyst for growth, emphasizing regional governments’ commitment to empowering them and fostering an environment conducive to their development.
Emphasizing that the future of ASEAN belongs to its youth, Kao urged them to actively promote peace, prosperity, and personal growth.
Encouraging young people to recognize their potential, Kao emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunities available to them.
According to Nguyen Tuong Lam, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, young people constitute a third of ASEAN’s population, making them a vital force driving the region’s future.
Lam stressed the importance of integrating youth perspectives into ASEAN’s policymaking processes, calling on young people to take the lead in the region’s development.
Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, Vietnam’s Outstanding Young Person of the Year for 2021, echoed the call for collective action among younger generations to address challenges and preserve ASEAN’s cultural heritage.
Tien emphasized the role of young people in shaping ASEAN’s future, preserving its cultural values, and enhancing cooperation among member states.
Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, highlighted the significant demographic of young people globally, particularly in developing countries.
Amidst global uncertainties, Paullier emphasized the pivotal role of youth as agents of social change and sustainability, advocating for a world characterized by justice, equality, peace, and sustainability.
In commemoration of the occasion, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and Acting Academy President Pham Lan Dung inaugurated the ASEAN Square on the Academy’s campus, aiming to raise awareness among students about ASEAN’s importance and Vietnam’s commitment to its partnerships with ASEAN member states.