Awards, presented by US State Department, recognize 10 young people from around globe for their initiatives to improve conditions in their communities.
The visit came at the end of a two-day meeting with other G7 foreign ministers; An overriding theme during the sessions was nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
US secretary will urge China to do more to press North Korea to stop its controversial nuclear tests when he sits down Wednesday for talks with officials in Beijing.
Secretary of state says progress for Cambodia in areas of human rights, universal freedoms and good governance is 'critical' in order 'to fulfill the potential' of bilateral relations with US.
John Kerry says US is stepping up efforts to help Laos deal with problems including hunger, unexploded ordinances and technology access during visit to Vientiane; he also speaks to challenges outside of Asia.
US secretary of state is in Laos, where he will lay groundwork for February summit with leaders of 10 ASEAN countries hosted by President Obama.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said that Kerry will travel to Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Laos, Cambodia and China.
South China Sea, cyberattacks, China's human rights situation and cooperation on climate issues among topics of discussion Friday.
He commented in Hanoi Friday, in a speech marking the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members are struggling to agree on language in joint statement regarding territorial dispute.
Secretary of State John Kerry is promoting the benefits of the proposed 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that would involve about 40 percent of global trade.
Regional ministers say Beijing has stopped reclamation because it has already formed its new islands and is simply moving to next phase: construction of outposts on reclaimed land
