On 14 September 2011, at 09.30 – 11.00 hrs., Mr. Nipon Petchpornprapas, Minister Counsellor, and Embassy staff, attended the 17th ASEAN Youth Day Meeting (AYDM) Opening Ceremony at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Linking and Leading Communities” as youth representatives from ten ASEAN countries came together to share experience, establish networks and friendship, in order to contribute towards the development of the region.

At the event, Guest-of-Honour, Mr. Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Chairman of the National Youth Council of Singapore, gave an opening remarks and presented two prestigious ASEAN Awards – the ASEAN Youth Award 2011 and the 6th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations in ASEAN (TAYO ASEAN) Awards, to youths and youth organizations in ASEAN who made outstanding contributions to their local and regional community.

For Thailand, outstanding Thai youth, Mr. Suparoek Torpan, from Khon Kean Province, was the recipient of the ASEAN Youth Award 2011, while National Children and Youth Council of Thailand received the 6th TAYO ASEAN Award.