Mr Dung assigned the task to the union during a working session with the Secretariat of the HCMCYU Central Committee in Hanoi on April 5.

Mr Dung said that, despite difficulties, Vietnamese youth have constantly upheld their glorious tradition and brought into full play their creativity by launching practical and effective movements, contributing to national development.  

He said that young people have conducted tens of thousands of scientific research projects, undertaken difficult tasks, and joined other forces to maintain traffic safety and order and help flood-hit localities overcome the aftermath of natural disasters. They have effectively promoted political and ideological education among young people and pioneers, helping create a healthy lifestyle, practise thrift and prevent waste in line with the Party’s on-going campaign of “Studying and Following the late President Ho Chi Minh’s Moral Examples.”  

However, he pointed to the fact that the content and organisation of Youth Union activities in rural areas, where nearly 70 percent of young Vietnamese people live, have not been updated frequently, and are failing to attract young people to local socio-economic development programmes.

The PM gave an in-depth analysis of the country’s situation and talked about the government’s major solutions aimed at curbing the economic slowdown, maintaining steady growth and ensuring social welfare.

All Youth Union members should be aware of the country’s situation and incorporate their plans of action into national tasks in order to help the country overcome difficulties and challenges, said Mr Dung.

He said major media youth agencies, including Tien Phong, Thanh Nien and Tuoi Tre newspapers, play a very important role in discovering, honouring and replicating exemplary role models in various aspects of life, creating influential and widespread movements among young people and pioneers.

He asked the HCMCYU Secretariat to build strong Youth Union organisations at grassroots level and educate young Vietnamese and students studying overseas about traditional culture and healthy lifestyles.

He assigned the Interior Ministry to formulate a training project for cadres at grassroots level, which will be first implemented in 61 poor districts. Under the project, the vice chairman of the communal people’s committee will concurrently hold the post of secretary of the communal Youth Union chapter.

He reminded the Youth Union to pay special attention to vocational training and job generation for young people, striving to train at least 50 percent of young labourers by 2010.  

He asked all Youth Union chapters to implement “the youth for with traffic order and safety” movement by encouraging target groups to wear helmets and not drink alcohol when driving, and also promote youth creativity and other volunteer activities.