HCM City (VNA) – The 45th Ship forSoutheast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) docked at Cat Lai Port inHo Chi Minh City on December 2 with 326 young delegates from ten ASEAN countries,including 29 from Vietnam.

The youths will stay in HCM City from December 2-5 totake part in a range of cultural exchange activities, visit schools, interactwith the city’s students and youths and live with local residents to experiencethe daily life of Vietnamese families.

Welcoming the ship, Secretary of the Ho Chi MinhCommunist Youth Union Central Committee Nguyen Ngoc Luong said he expected theyouths from ASEAN and Japan will have good memories about Vietnamese people andnature during their stay in HCM City and at the same time, each of them will alsoleave good impression here to strengthen ties between ASEAN and Japan.

He urged Vietnamese participants to actively introduce totheir regional peers the beauty of Vietnam’s nature, people and culture andlearn from others to inspire the country’s youths.

Later the same day, SSEAYP participants and about 500local youths participated in a cultural exchange programme whererepresentatives from the countries performed their unique traditional songs anddances.

The SSEAYP is an annual youth exchange programme sponsoredby the Japanese Government and supported by the member countries of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1974 during whichparticipants have an opportunity to live together on board the Nippon Maru Shipfor over 50 days.

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

This year’s SSEAYP, which takes place from October 23 toDecember 13, will visit four of the ten ASEAN nations, namely Brunei, thePhilippines, Thailand and Vietnam, and Japan.

It is expected to help youths exercise leadership skills in various fields andcontribute to society in youth development. The participants have been engagedin vibrant discussions on social and youth matters, eye-opening culturalexchanges as well as sports, recreational and club activities.

At each port of call, they are provided chance tointeract with the local youths, pay courtesy calls on leaders, visit localinstitutions, get involved in community service and experience unique homestayprogramme.–VNA