HCMCity (VNA) – The current visit of the 45th Ship for Southeast Asianand Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) to Ho Chi Minh City is meaningful tolocal residents, particularly youths, a municipal official has said.

ViceChairman of the People’s Committee of the city Huynh Cach Mang made hisstatement while receiving the SSEAYP executive board and representatives of 11participating countries on December 4.

Atthe reception, Mang praised the initiative of the governments of Japan andSoutheast Asian nations in boosting connection, friendship and mutualunderstanding among their youths.

Describingyoung people as a key driving force to turning HCM City into a smart city inthe future, he said the visit is an occasion to make the southern economic hubbetter known among Southeast Asian and Japanese youths as well as to help localyouths exchange their experiences with foreign peers.

Administratorof the SSEAYP Yamatani Hideyuki said his delegation took part in variousactivities in Japan before heading to Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand and HoChi Minh City.

Hefurther added that while in the city, also the last leg of the ship beforereturning to Japan, they have gained experiences and understanding on the localculture and lifestyle.

Accordingto the administrator, the 29 SSEAYP delegates from Vietnam have activelyengaged in discussions on global and regional issues, while introducing Vietnameseculture to others. 

The45th SSEAYP started to dock at Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City on December 2with 326 young delegates, including the 29 from Vietnam. The youths arescheduled to stay in the city until December 5 to take part in a range ofcultural exchange activities, visit schools, interact with the city’s studentsand youths, and live with local residents to experience the daily life ofVietnamese families.

TheSSEAYP is an annual youth exchange programme sponsored by the JapaneseGovernment and supported by the member countries of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1974, during which participants have anopportunity to live together on board the Nippon Maru Ship for over 50 days.

Thejourney aims to promote friendship among the youths of the participatingcountries, broaden their perspectives of the world and strengthen their spiritand skills for international cooperation.

Thisyear’s SSEAYP, which takes place from October 23 to December 13, will visitfour of the 10 ASEAN nations, namely Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand andVietnam.

Ateach port of call, they are provided with a chance to interact with localyouths, pay courtesy calls on leaders, visit local institutions, get involvedin community service and experience unique homestay programme.–VNA