More than 250 university students from 150 countries and regions gathered in Hong Kong Sunday for the opening of ITU Telecom World 2006 Youth Forum.

Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the six-day forum offers young leaders a chance to establish networks and to share knowledge. Each union member nominated two university students -- a male and a female -- to join the forum.

Hong Kong representative Antony Tam said after the forum's first meeting that participating students will share their vision on the future of information and communications technology at the forum through a series of interactive sessions and workshops.

The students will also draft a declaration action plan conveying their global vision for expanding the benefits of information and communications technology, which will be presented on December 8, said Tam.

Apart from the dedicated youth forum sessions, the young people will also have opportunity to join the main forum, visit the show floor of the ITU World Telecom 2006 exhibition and enjoy a series of host city programs to know more about Hong Kong.

The Federation of Youth Groups has recruited more than 40 local university students to act as young ambassadors. They receive the overseas youth fellows during the event period and act as young reporters, contributing articles and photographs of the conferences and activities.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2006)