APEC Voices of the Future taking place from November 6-10 during APEC Economic Leaders' Week.

Opening ceremony of The APEC Voices of the Future 2017 (Photo from apec2017.vn)

The APEC Voices of the Future 2017 (VOF 2017) kicked off at the University of Da Nang on November 6, gathering together 180 young delegates from 17 APEC member economies.

Never before have young people in APEC economies faced the opportunities and challenges they face today, Mr. Nguyen Long Hai, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam told the opening ceremony of VOF.

The development of the knowledge-based economy with advanced science and technology has undoubtedly made people lives better. “We have many opportunities to become closer and understand each other and cooperate more for the prosperity of inpidual economies and the global economy as a whole,” Mr. Hai said.

Besides the opportunities for development, economies and regions are facing multi-dimensional challenges, including geo-political competition, terrorism, transnational crime, cybersecurity, inequality, poverty, disease, and climate change, among others.

“VOF 2017 is an opportunity for the youth of APEC to meet, exchange information, and share experiences for common development,” Mr. Hai added.

Under the theme “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”, VOF 2017 focuses on two priorities: promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, and young people actively contributing to creating new dynamism and building the future of the Asia-Pacific region.

The theme chosen by the host economy, Vietnam, is fitting for the younger generation in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Mr. James Soh, Co-Chair of the APEC Voices Leadership Council. “As our world becomes increasingly connected, our future becomes intertwined,” he said. “Young leaders from the 21 member economies have to recognize that we all share a common future, and how we want our future to turn out depends on what we do at the present moment.”

Co-organized by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the 2017 APEC National Secretariat, and the VOF International Organizing Committee, VOF 2017 will take place from November 6 to 10 during the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang and Quang Nam province./.

VNF/Vn Economic Times