Opening Speech by H.E. Im Sethy, Minister of the Ministry of  Education, Youth and Sports, Cambodia

At the ASEAN Youth Forum on “the Roles of Youth in ASEAN Community Building”, Phnom Penh Hotel, CAMBODIA

1-2 April 2012

Your Excellencies, the Ambassadors and representatives of ASEAN Member States

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen

First of all, allow me to express my great pleasure and honor to be here at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Youth Forum today on “The Roles of Youth in ASEAN Community building” which considered as a major tool to contribute to the ASEAN Community in order to achieve “ONE ASEAN, ONE DESTINY”.  On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Kingdom of Cambodia and myself, I would like to warmly welcome you all, our honorable speakers, distinguished delegates and participants from ASEAN Member States attending this very important meeting which is the main objective of the 20th ASEAN SUMMIT this year.

Indeed, as the ASEAN Chair for 2012, Cambodia would strongly commit and drive the Vision of "ASEAN One Community, One Destiny" to build the ASEAN Community in 2015. The theme of this year's ASEAN - ASEAN One Community, One Destiny - is a meaningful message to the young people in ASEAN that they have a role to play in shaping the region's future, and that they can begin to do that now. Alongside this, the ASEAN Youth Forum matches the present situation when the Royal Government of Cambodia is greatly concerned with the issues related to the youth's education development with quality of life and it is also the right time to focus on the ways to improve living conditions for our people.

The most important development in Cambodia during the last decade has been the change in behavior, virtue as well as perseverance and “national unification” political agenda which are important philosophies and roads to peace, development, prosperity and sustainability in Cambodia. Peace and stability have been the integral components of the “win-win” strategy of the Royal Government to achieve lasting territorial unification. There is no doubt that without peace and stability, there will be no development and prosperity. In particular, with the strengthening in peace, stability, national unification, democracy, respect for human rights and dignity Cambodia has achieved economic development, regained national and international trust, and is well prepared to move towards a brighter future.

Within “The Roles of Youth in ASEAN Community building”, Cambodia have put a lot efforts to inspire and provided opportunities for young people to develop their potential fully as the productive citizen and at the same time prepare them to take in charge and contribute in building ASEAN Community. We currently keep giving high priority to capacity building and human resource development through supporting strategic plan and priorities program in order to continuously raise the quality and efficiency of education at all levels, which answers appropriately and timely to the Government’s policy on capacity building and human resource development for ensuring Cambodia’s competitiveness in integrating herself into the region and the world.

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

Globalization and major improvements in access to education have allowed many ASEAN youth to both benefit from and contribute to the development of their countries. ASEAN culture, values and ways of life have changed considerably as a result of increased economic openness and exposure to foreign goods, services and information. Developments in education represent perhaps the most important of the factors that have positioned ASEAN economies to take advantage of the demographic dynamic and globalization. Access to quality education has expanded in many parts of ASEAN, making it possible for a much broader range of youth to contribute meaningfully to economic and social development.

In this context, I would like to recall that during the 44th ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting at Bali, Indonesia in July 2011, the Meeting was convened amidst ASEAN’s ongoing efforts in building the ASEAN Community to be achieved by 2015. This endeavor reinforces the relative peace, stability and economies enjoyed by the region. In response to this situation, it is noted that ASEAN has to continue to enhance its regional commitments and resilience in order to cope with challenges and make use of opportunities by underscoring the importance of the engagement and participation of the peoples of ASEAN, including all stakeholders within ASEAN.
Clearly, almost more than 60% of ASEAN's populations are below 30 years old. It is our responsibility to cooperate and ensure that these 324 million ASEAN youth (590,844,000 total population-2009 ASEAN-statistics) will benefit from sound and bold policies. Then they can look forward to a brighter future in a region that is cohesive and strong, vibrant and prosperous.

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

In conjunction with the 20th ASEAN SUMMIT and ASEAN's Leaders meetings, I am convinced that this gathering provides a great opportunity for our youth leaders and their representatives from across the ASEAN region to exchange dialogue on critical socio-economic challenges to find options and alternatives in order to improve the living standards of ASEAN community by broadening their opportunities and expanding their choices. We are very pleased that the two-day Youth Forum will focus on the role of  ASEAN youth in ASEAN Community Building cover with several aspects inline with ASEAN blueprint that refer mostly on the issues of (1) education, (2) employment & entrepreneurship, (3) leadership, (4) participation, (5) connectivity , (6) volunteerism and Promotion of youth exchanges between ASEAN plus three that was included in the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, which was adopted on 8 October 2003 at the ASEAN-Plus Three Summit and they will present their deliberations to the 20th ASEAN's Leader Summit.  

Moreover, now it is the right time for us to increasingly encourage youth participation in programming and policy-making, preparing younger generations to exercise their rights and becoming contributing members of societies. Volunteering is a vital resource for young people as it aids personal development. At the same time to focus on Youth entrepreneurship, Youth Leadership and youth connectivity, etc. which aim to promote the awareness and building capacity of ASEAN youth to know the important of being an entrepreneurs and young generation leaders in contribution of building ASEAN Community.
Such a forum, we also believe in others initiatives that contribute to promote the ASEAN youth in building ASEAN community and hope that all ASEAN's Youth leaders will take into accounts what is importance factors in assist Youth in contribution of ASEAN Community Building.  

Finally, I would like to express my profound appreciation and thanks to all participants of the meeting for your effort in all activities of the meeting. We wish Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, a great success, happiness and a very good stay in Cambodia.

On this note, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I hereby officially declare the ASEAN Youth Forum open.