Sending earnest and talented Taiwan youth abroad to engage in people-to-people exchanges is the best way of displaying Taiwan’s soft power to the world, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said Sept. 25.
In a speech at an event showcasing the results of the 2012 International Youth Ambassador Program, Ma said that in addition to carrying out foreign aid work, the government has been actively promoting cultural exchanges between the ROC and other nations.
The president noted that since the young ambassador program was launched in 2009 with six teams comprising around 100 people, the number of individuals and groups participating has increased annually. This year, he said, more than 300 individuals in 43 groups have visited 38 countries on five continents, including 17 with which the ROC does not maintain formal diplomatic ties.
These exchanges help to enhance young Taiwan citizens’ global perspective and are based on the principles of equality and inclusiveness, he added. (SB-THN)