Hanoi (VNA) - A discussion on January 4 in Hanoi onglobal youth citizenship discussed ways for young Vietnamese to actively equipthemselves with knowledge and skills to engage in global issues in anincreasingly integrated world. The discussion, titled“Building youth models in an era of virtuous global citizens”, was organised bythe Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), youth unions of central agencies,Vietnam News Agency (VNA) youth union. It drew participation from researchers,experts and youth union members. Participants expressedtheir opinions about how to be global citizens and the roles of youth unionsand associations in facilitating global citizenship. HCYU Secretary NguyenNgoc Luong said “Building youth models plays an important role in the new era,especially during global integration.” In addition, the HCYUSecretary Committee called on Vietnamese youth to have a kind heart, intelligenceand big ambitions. Soon, HCYU willestablish and promote an environment for youth to practise and improve theirethical insight, legal knowledge and skills, he said. Former Deputy PrimeMinister Vu Khoan said that market economics and global integration bring bothpositivity and negativity, affecting the economy, politics, society and cultureof each nation’s citizens, including young people. Vietnamese youth headingout to the world must hold virtues, knowledge and civilised behaviours withfriends around the world. In particular, they must learn about the progressiveachievements of the world to contribute to the nation’s construction whilepreserving national traditions. “There are two elementsthat Vietnamese youth must focus on to become global citizens. The first is thecountry’s patriotism and its efforts to overcome difficulties. This spirit hasencouraged generations of Vietnamese youth to sacrifice for the nation duringthe country’s history. The second is beingkind, through a compassion that can be shown through working and communicationstyles”. The former Deputy PrimeMinister said that the youth can contribute to the country through domesticactivity. For example, protecting the Vietnamese environment and naturalresources is also protecting the global environment and climate. “In the S-shaped country,we are still global citizens,” he said. Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, amember of the Ho Chi Minh Museum youth union said that global citizens live andwork in various countries. They hold one or more than one nationalities. Theyare able to overcome barriers of space and culture. “Global citizens canbring many societal benefits thanks to their knowledge and experience fromliving and working in many different countries and cultures.” “They also must haveglobal vision to identify opportunities and risks with an open mind, and theymust accept and respect differences in the world,” she said. Reporter Thuy Ngan, fromthe VNA youth union, said, “The VNA has more than 30 overseas news bureaus. Thefirst quality to be qualified for working there is foreign languages.” “When I started workingfor VNA, I only knew French. Then I realised I must know English, and I havemade efforts to learn it. Without learning, we will be left behind this globalera,” she said. Concluding thediscussion, HCYU Secretary Nguyen Ngoc Luong listed out global citizens’qualities, including knowledge about local and international culture and laws,good health, language proficiency, soft skills, deep professional knowledge,and community responsibility.-VNA