Participants in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-organized International Youth Ambassador Exchange Program are set to conclude the first portion of their two-city tours Sept. 2, according to the MOFA.

The initiative, launched by the ministry in 2009 with the aim of fostering people-to-people exchanges, involves selected Taiwan university students taking part in volunteer work, talks and cultural performances in countries across the globe.

In line with the government’s New Southbound Policy, this year’s edition is themed New Taiwan Generation, New Southbound Vision, and involves three groups of youth ambassadors visiting two destinations each, namely Jakarta and Manila, and Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur from Aug. 28 to Sept. 6, as well as New Delhi and Singapore from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7, respectively.

The 25 youth ambassadors who visited Jakarta toured various government organizations such as the Taipei Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta, Indonesia as well as the People’s Representative Council and Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education. They also engaged in conversations with students at Binus University.

While in Indonesia, the youth ambassadors gave a song-and-dance performance featuring traditional Chinese orchestral instruments. They received much praise from their audience as well as local media outlets.

TETO head John C. Chen, who attended the performance, applauded the program and said that these young people will become the leaders of tomorrow. Long-term exchanges and connections are beneficial to the development of bilateral ties between Taiwan and Indonesia, he added.

The group that visited Bangkok spent time getting to know students at Rangsit University and were given guided tours of King Prajadhipok’s Institute as well as Buddhist temples and local businesses. They also traveled to the main Thailand branch of the Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation to take part in volunteer work.

Meanwhile, the youth ambassadors that went to New Delhi paid visits to locations such as a children’s shelter run by the nongovernmental organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan as well as Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Mandarin-learning center.

According to the MOFA, such visits help strengthen bilateral ties by building long-term people-to-people connections between local youths and their counterparts in New Southbound Policy target countries. The ministry also said the program helps Taiwan youths expand their international perspectives and aids them in becoming responsible global citizens.

Since its inception, the youth ambassador initiative has sent 164 groups of more than 1,400 students to almost 70 countries and territories around the world, the MOFA said. (KWS-E)

Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw