Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at the working session with the Secretariat of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc urged young people to get more involved in the fight against the COVID-19 at a working session with the Secretariat of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee in Hà Nội on Wednesday, a day ahead of the union’s founding anniversary.

At the meeting, First Secretary of the committee Lê Quốc Phong said recently, it has reformed the union’s activities and youth movements to attract more youngsters.

The theme 'Year of Youth Volunteers' in 2019 received a warm response from HCYU cadres and members and other young people. Activities during the year were organised from the central to grassroots levels, he said, noting that the number of young people taking part in voluntary activities last year rose three-fold from 2018.

The secretariat of the committee hopes that the PM will help create favourable conditions for the union to perform its tasks in representing children’s voices and aspirations, and uniting young overseas Vietnamese, Phong added.

The secretariat also proposed the PM approve the establishment of the 'Việt Nam youth initiative for the community' programme and a social skill training system for young Vietnamese people.

Addressing the event, PM Phúc applauded the union and relevant organisations’ contributions to the country, especially last year.

He said over the last three months, the union’s cadres, members and other youngsters have helped fight COVID-19 via hand-washing stations, medical students’ support for anti-coronavirus activities, and distribution of free face masks.

The leader requested the union get young people involved in the COVID-19 prevention and control more strongly, multiply effective models in the work and mobilise social resources.

Stressing the need to capitalise on the “golden time” to contain the coronavirus spread, he said the 6.3 million union members must not only make health declarations but also to help other people do so to help authorities protect people vulnerable to infection.

Additionally, the PM ordered the committee to continue activities to promote young Vietnamese’s capacity to meet national development and defence requirements and bring into play the youth’s role in carrying out the tasks of the nation.

He also told sectors and authorities to increase co-ordination to better care for the youth’s demand and interests and further assist youngsters to access job opportunities. — VNS