Within the framework of the ongoing APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week  (AELW), the APEC Voices of the Future 2017 (VOF 2017) opened at the headquarters of the University of Da Nang at 41 Le Duan on Monday.

Chairman Tho (1st row, 4th right) and other participants at the opening ceremony of VOF 2017

The event was attended by a total of 180 delegates from 17 APEC member economies.

Themed ‘Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future’ chosen by the host country of Viet Nam, VOF 2017 is running until 11 November.  It is a platform for youth voices at the annual APEC summit.

Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho highlighted the importance of VOF 2017 in offering a valuable opportunity for young people to access practical knowledge shared by the region’s leading speakers, in his opening speech for the event. 

The city leader remarked that VOF 2017 also facilitates youths to show their sense of responsibility for making even greater devotion towards the future development and prosperity of the APEC member economies, and the world as a whole.

During his speech at the opening ceremony of the event, Mr James Soh, Co-Chair of the APEC Voices Leadership Council, affirmed that VOF 2017’s theme is totally suitable for the younger generation in the Asia-Pacific region.  “Youths exude creativity and dynamism, and when nurtured in the right direction, they can be the driving force for a nation’s future,” he added.

Also addressing the event, Mr Nguyen Long Hai, the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union cum Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Youth of Viet Nam said he hoped that the youth delegations will be actively involved in discussions, action plans, proposing initiatives and valuable solutions.  This, thereby, will help to promote cooperation amongst APEC youths as well as enhancing their engagement in handling development issues of APEC regionally and globally.

A representative from VOF 2017’s organisers (1st right), presenting souvenir medals to Professor Tran Van Nam (1st left), the Director of the University of Da Nang (UDN), Secretary Hai (2nd left), Chairman Tho (3rd right) and a representative from the UDN (2nd right)

During a plenary session on Monday, participants made presentations on how to create new dynamism and fostering a shared future amongst young Asia-Pacific people.

Under VOF 2017, they will also work in groups, focusing on 4 topics: the contributions of youths to APEC Vision beyond 2020 and the future; economic, financial and social integration; human resources development in the digital age and policies to support start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Founded in 2007, VOF is a youth meeting for exchanges amongst young students from each economy held concurrently with the APEC Summit, aiming to let young students know more about APEC, expand their horizons, stimulate their enthusiasm for taking on the roles of leaders, and promote in-depth cultural exchanges amongst their countries.

The VOF program brings together young people with potential for leadership and making a difference in society, and exposes them to the real-life deal-making process of world leaders, inspiring them to do the same with their own ideas.