Young people should connect with the world and promote Taiwan’s internationalization, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday told an event organized by the Overseas Compatriots Affairs Council.
Members of the Taiwan Youth and Overseas Expatriate Bridging Program and the Senior Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors attended the event in Taipei as part of the council’s work to promote interaction and exchanges among young Taiwanese, the council said.
The bridging program, which resumed after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sent 64 university and college students to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles during the summer vacation to learn about overseas compatriots affairs, it said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
The participants completed internships at Taiwan’s representative offices abroad and the commission’s overseas offices, it said.
They also visited overseas Taiwanese groups, businesses and schools, as well as local political, economic, academic and cultural institutions, it said.
The council launched the cultural ambassador training program in 2011 to foster solidarity among Taiwanese living in North America through culture and leadership training, and public service activities, it said.
After entering universities or colleges, cultural ambassadors can participate in advanced training courses to become Senior Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors, the council said.
This year it invited 27 members of the association from the US and Canada to attend a training program in Taiwan from Sunday to yesterday.
THE FUTURE
“Young people are the future of the country,” Lai said at the event. “Hopeful young people will bring hope to the country.”
The government encourages young people to go into the world to broaden their vision and develop forward-looking thinking, as well as to gain more attention and support for Taiwan from the international community, he said.
Interacting with and learning from other countries can help Taiwan develop and adapt to challenges such as geopolitical changes, digital transformation and reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions, he said.
Lai invited the attendees to learn about the nation’s society, which is democratic, free and open, and human rights-focused, as well as its religions, industries, food and cultures.
Overseas Taiwanese can visit Taiwan frequently to keep up with changes in the nation, he said.
Lai presented certificates to participants of both programs.
Members of the bridging program gave him souvenirs they brought from their visits abroad, while association members gave him handmade gifts representing their home cities.
Overseas Compatriots Affairs Council Minister Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) said that the council would continue to provide more support and resources to help young people “bring Taiwan to the world.”
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