Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday attended a predeparture event for Taiwanese high-school students who are to visit the US and Canada as part of an annual government program promoting diplomacy.
During the flag ceremony for the annual Teen Diplomatic Envoys program, Lin congratulated the 20 high-school students who had been selected from five schools across Taiwan.
The schools — Taipei Fuhsing Private School, Taipei’s Chingshin Academy, Changhua City’s Ching Cheng High School, Taichung’s Ming-Der Senior High School and Taipei First Girls’ High School — were chosen from among 300 that had applied for the program.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Now in its 21st year, the Teen Diplomatic Envoys program has sent 58 groups totaling more than 230 high-school students overseas with the aim of helping them broaden their international outlooks, while demonstrating the creativity and vitality of young Taiwanese, Lin said.
The program also aligns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ goal of promoting public diplomacy, he added.
The students would be divided into two groups, with one traveling to Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco, while the other is to visit Washington, New York and Boston, he said.
The 11-day trips, which start on Feb. 3, are to include stops at political, educational and cultural institutions, as well as international and non-governmental organizations.
The delegation is also to meet with politicians, academics and students, the ministry said.
Jointly organized by the foreign ministry and the Ministry of Education, the program has been held annually since 2002, except in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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