Sydney (VNA) – The Australia – Vietnam YoungLeadership Dialogue (AVYLD) 2019 was officially launched at the Admiralty Housein Sydney, Australia on October 5 to bring together young leaders from bothcountries and engage them in promoting the bilateral relationship.

Present at the event were Governor-General of theCommonwealth of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his spouse, Vietnamese ConsulGeneral in New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia Trinh Duc Hai, andAustralia-ASEAN Council Board Chairwoman Christine Holgate.

The event also marked the launch of applicationinvitation from both emerging young Vietnamese and Australian leaders inbusiness, startups, academia, government, not-for-profit and the arts. Twentycandidates will be later selected to attend the AVYLD to be held in Hanoi andHo Chi Minh City from May 26 – 30, 2019.

Following the highly successful inaugural dialogue in2017, the delegates will come together to openly discuss the theme “Beyond2019: creating a sustainable future together”.

In his opening remarks, Governor-General Peter Cosgrovehighly spoke of the decades-long relationship in diplomacy, trade and economicsbetween Vietnam and Australia, saying this year is special as it marks the 45th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

He expressed his belief that to maintain the prosperityfor the two nations against the backdrop of globalization, they need youngleaders who are innovative, compassionate and courageous with an internationalvision.

He expects the AVYLD will help bridge innovators who willdirectly contribute to the bilateral relations and more importantly, foster thesustainable development in both sides.

Consul General Trinh Duc Hai, for his part, said he isdelight at the remarkable steps the two countries have made to promote theirfriendship and Strategic Partnership. He wished the AVYLD 2019 a great successand hoped that the bilateral ties will flourish in all fields next year.

Following the launch event in Sydney, a similar eventwill take place in HCM City on October 29.

The Australia Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue (AVYLD) is anindependent non-profit initiative that was established to nurture relationships,promote engagement and incubate collaboration between Australian and Vietnameseyoung leaders from a broad spectrum of society. It also aims to facilitatedeeper understanding and to foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationshipsto improve economic, social and cultural prosperity for citizens in Vietnam andAustralia.

The first AVYLD, themed “Innovation”, took place inSydney in 2017, bringing together 20 Vietnamese and Australian delegates aged25 – 35. –VNA