The recommendations aim at upgrading the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), working out policies to protect less developed countries, boosting coordination among non-governmental organisations in fighting corruption, and encouraging the compulsory teaching of civics at schools.

They also aim to increase public awareness of and responsibility for using water resource, launching campaigns to prevent the exhaustion of water reserves, developing recycling and desalting technology to reduce the use of industrially-treated water, and intensifying cooperation between regional countries in preserving water resources.

The proposals will be sent to concerned governments as well as educational and non-governmental organisations.

Twenty-eight talented students from leading universities in seven Asian nations attended the forum, which was held in Vietnam for the first time.

VOVNews/VNA