Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan highly praised the creativity, sacrifice and iron will of Vietnam’s young generations in the cause of national defence and construction.

He applauded the HCM Communist Youth Union Central Committee that chose environmental protection as the main subject of Youth Month 2010 and hopes young people all over the country will continue to set new targets in the lead-up to the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Also on this occasion, the Central Youth Union presented VND1 billion to a representative of the Navy Command to convey to soldiers on the islands.    

After the ceremony, nearly 2,000 young people took part in a blood donation event at the Student Culture House and 1,000 volunteers joined in planting trees and cleaning up the environment at Thong Nhat Park and La Phu trade village in Hoai Duc District, Hanoi.         

During Youth Month 2010, 63 cities and provinces will hold 4 green sundays, plant 1 million trees and 100 hectares of forest, and ensure a clean environment in the areas surrounding Cau, Nhue and Dong Nai bridges and other polluted areas. Ten job fairs will be held, 3,000 officials will be trained in career counseling, and about VND400 billion in loan capital will be made available to assist young people to start their own business.