A 100-member Chinese youth delegation arrived in Hanoi Sunday for the 10th China-Vietnam youth friendship meeting.

At the opening ceremony of the meeting, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Vietnam Nguyen Dac Vinh said the 10th meeting between Vietnamese and Chinese youth is of greater significance in the context that the two countries are embracing the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which is to fall on January 18.

Vinh said that the meeting brings a good opportunity for the representatives of the young people of Vietnam and China to exchange views of mutual concern, share experiences and propose initiatives in youth activities, especially in the education of young people, socio-economic development, community building, ensuring social security and protection of young people's rights.

Vietnamese and Chinese youth should together find out effective ways to promote the cooperative and friendly relations between the young people of the two countries, said Vinh.

Wang Hongyan, head of the Chinese youth delegation and a member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China said that the exchange activities of Chinese and Vietnamese youth have become an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries.

Wang said she believes Chinese and Vietnamese youth can definitely keep and promote the cooperative and friendly relations between China and Vietnam and pass this spirit on to the next generation, contributing to the happiness of the two peoples, and peace and development in Asia and the world.

At the meeting, Vietnamese and Chinese youth presented each other with souvenirs and performed songs and dances to feature the cultures and close relations of the two countries.

The Chinese youth delegation is in Vietnam for a 10-day visit.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2009)