11/08/1998

Mr Chairman
Distinguished delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the Central Committee of the Lao People´s Revolutionary Youth Union and Lao Young People , I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the organizers of this important World Youth Forum in Lisbon, Portugal where the Leaders of young people of each country all over the World can exchange experience in guiding, organizing and helping young people to built their future which is the is the future of peace, friendship, cooperation, respect for each other and prosperity.

As we know, the future of each country in our World is up to how well we prepare our young people at present. In the Lao People´s how well we prepare our young people at present. In the Lao People´s Democratic Republic, political stability continues to be solidly guaranteed. The multi-ethnic Lao people are living in solidarity and unity to develop our state of the people, by the people and for the people. In the economic sphere, implementation of the renewal policy, which began in 1986, has made it possible for our economy to experience sustained growth, with an annual rate of approximately 7% over the past five years. Unfortunately, this year, our country has suffered sizeable losses because of natural disasters and the repercussions of financial recession in South-East Asia. Nevertheless, cooperation between Laos and the International Community remains very strong.

Mr. Chairman

The Lao People´s Revolutionary Youth Union was established in 1955 to implement the aspiration of the Lao People. Who were fighting for sovereignty and independence of our country. Since 1975, the Lao People´s Revolutionary Youth Union has actively been participating and implementing the two strategic duties:

-Safeguarding and constructing our beloved country.

In the field of national youth policy formulation, the first congress of the Lao People´s Revolutionary Young Union was held in 1983 in Vientiane, the capital city of the Lao PDR. The declaration of the congress was, in fact, our national youth policy after the third congress, the national Youth policy has been demonstrated in detail and become our action plan for developing Lao young people and pioneers. The outline is as follows:

1- Educating for a fervent spirit of patriotism and loving the new regime.

2- Training and upgrading our organization staff at different levels.

3- strengthening the Lao People´s Revolutionary youth Union at all levels.

4- Running businesses to generate income for serving Youth and Child activities.

5- Developing young people and pioneers in all fields at the same time.

6- Upgrading the capacity of Lao youth media.

7- Developing labour skill, finding and creating jobs for young people.

8- Building facilities such as: youth and child developed centers and pioneer places and so on.

The purpose of these projects is to build our young people to be good citizens, to have a fervent patriotic spirit, to love our new regime, to upgrade their educational levels, to get jobs, to have good and strong health, good morals and internationalism.

That´s why the focus areas of our national youth policy are:

1- Patriotism and internationalism.

2- Education.

3- Employment.

4- Health.

5- Morals.

6- Striving.

Mr. Chairman

Once again, I would like to express thanks to you and the organizers of this forum for facilitations our delegation to join this conference. Whishing you all good health, happiness and success in fulfilling your noble tasks. Thank you very much for your attention.