HÀ NỘI – The Ministry of Home Affairs and the United Nations in Việt Nam on August 12 held a youth event with the theme “Vietnamese Youth: Partners in achieving the sustainable development goals” in Hà Nội.

The event was based on the visions of five young leaders, as representatives of the 25 million young people in the country, and face-to-face dialogues with leaders of youth-relevant ministries and the Youth Union.

There was also a youth market where young people displayed photos and videos that reflect their points of view on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vulnerable groups and young entrepreneurs brought products such as handicrafts, innovative technologies and apps.

The 17 SDGs with a total of 169 targets were adopted in 2015. As many as 65 out of the 169 SDG targets explicitly or implicitly refer to young people.

Pratibha Mehta, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam, said, “We can only achieve these goals if young people can actively and meaningfully participate in development processes as drivers of change and leaders of our future.”

“Here in Việt Nam, the SDGs must be everyone’s business, especially young people,” she said.

On International Youth Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the United Nations in Việt Nam call on all stakeholders to make sure that young people are listened to and empowered to play a key role in the national effort to achieve the SDGs.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyễn Trọng Thừa said, “We believe that young people must play a key role in working to achieve the SDGs.”

“A strong partnership between young people and all other stakeholders will be vital so that young people’s challenges can be addressed, their contributions recognised, and to ensure that they are included at all levels of decision-making,” he said.

Việt Nam is currently experiencing a golden population period, recording the highest proportion of young people in the country’s history. There are more than 25 million people aged between 16 and 30, more than a quarter of the total population, according to the 2009 census. – VNS