Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc poses with former and current youth volunteers at the 70th anniversary of Traditional Day of Vietnam Youth Volunteer Force (July 15, 1950-2020) held in Hà Nội on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Tuesday asked youth volunteer forces to take care of former youth volunteers and not let any of them live in poverty, especially those who were lonely and sick.

Speaking at the 70th anniversary of Traditional Day of Vietnam Youth Volunteer Force (July 15, 1950-2020) held in Hà Nội on Tuesday, Phúc urged Party committees and authorities at all levels to review policies for former youth volunteers to ensure their living standards are at least equal to the average of the people in their area.

Authorities should pay attention to the daily life, health care, and job creation for the children of former youth volunteers, he said.

At the anniversary, the First Secretary of the Central Youth Union Lê Quốc Phong detailed the contribution of the former youth volunteers over the past seven decades.

More than 65,000 young men and women volunteered to join resistance wars against the French (1950-1954) and the US (1965-1975).

More than 6,700 youth volunteers died and some 40,400 were injured over the years. More than 14,000 people were exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin.

Phong said they were shining examples of revolutionary heroic spirit and were committed to the Party and State in the fight for national independence.

To spread the spirit of former youth volunteers, the union has held many movements with the participation of tens of millions of young people to build national socio-economic development and defence.

Prime Minister Phúc said former youth volunteers marked their names in many victories in key battles such as Cò Nòi and Đồng Lộc Intersection and Truông Bồn Historical Site.

Phúc asked to take care of the material and spiritual life of youth volunteers and told the Vietnam Youth Volunteers’ Association to improve the quality of the volunteer youth movement to help them do business.

He also reminded the association to complete the system of policies on preferential treatment for those who devoted themselves to national liberation. Those who contributed to the socio-economic development of the nation should also be encouraged and honoured.

In addition, Phúc requested the association review and propose amendments to favourable mechanisms and policies for youth volunteers to participate in socio-economic development.

The Central Committee of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union and Vietnam Youth Volunteers Association was told to work closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs to propose the provisions on the Youth Volunteers in the revised Youth Law, which was promulgated by the National Assembly.

On this occasion, 70 young volunteers who made great contributions to the development of localities were honoured. — VNS