Publication date:November 3, 2018
Publisher:Youth Development Administration
Coordinator: Li-Wei Yang
Telephone/Mobile phone:02-77365530/0928-871-502
E-mail:oooholivia@mail.yda.gov.tw
Contact person for the press: Section director, Yi-Han Hsueh
Telephone/Mobile phone:02-77365523/0988-554-255
2018 Global Youth Trends Forum - Our common Future, was held today at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei’s International Ballroom. Youth participants from 19 countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, the UK, the US, Vietnam and Taiwan, over 300 youths have come and joined this exciting event. Among them, 7 were New Southbound countries, creating a platform to further strengthen the connection and exchange between young people from Taiwan and New Southbound countries. This is the 6th year in a row that the Youth Development Administration, Ministry of Education has held the Forum, which has a different theme every year based on global trends and vital youth issues, aiming to provide an opportunity for local youth to connect with a global network, bring the world to Taiwan and eventually introducing Taiwan to the world.
Taiwan Vice President, Mr. Chen Jien-jen and Political Deputy Minister of Ministry of Education, Ms. Fan, Sun-Lu, came to the event to greet the youth participants, encouraging them to broaden their horizons and particularly those from Taiwan to proactively interact with foreign delegates and help Taiwan continue to shine on the global stage. Additionally, the Vice President urged the youth to explore current issues through international activities, take actions, give back to society and become a driving force for the world to improve and develop. In recent years, New Southbound Policy has been a priority for the Government. Vice President encouraged young people to interact with outstanding students from the friendly neighboring countries and build a bridge for further collaboration. He also mentioned that based on the three sub-topics—Global Office - Talent Mobility Beyond Borders, Be a World Traveler - Grand Tour Globally, and Speak up for Our Future - Participation in Society and the World, the Youth Development Administration put a lot of effort into organizing various visits for the participants for them to have a better understanding of Taiwan and unforgettable experiences. He lastly urged everyone who participates in public affairs to keep “the value of life” in mind, think what they can contribute to society, stay young, be willing to take challenges and have courage to make a change.
In order for the participants to have more concrete ideas about the common future, the special opening ceremony included an activity which invited the delegates from 19 countries to write down their wishes for the future on cards based on the core value of “the youth moving the future forward” and put them on the “Ferris Wheel of the Future”. Vice President and Political Deputy Minister of Education waved Taiwan’s national flag to kick start the opening ceremony. The turning of the Ferris Wheel by Vice President marks the official beginning of the Forum. Together with the chief delegates from 19 countries, Vice President and Political Deputy Minister of Education shouted “We rock the future” and encouraged young people to build a network for continuous exchanges and turn the initiatives into actions so everyone can share a better world.
This year, the theme of the Forum is Our Common Future - Youth Cultivation and Development of Youth with 3 sub-topics, focusing on the youth’s act