Japan Chairs ASEAN Youth Leaders Summit

The Japan-ASEAN Youth Leaders Summit was held last October 29 at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center.

It was organized as part of the Country Program in Japan under the 34th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program 2007(SSEAYP2007), a diplomatic and cultural course aimed at cultivating the spirit of cooperation among Asian youth participants.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Akishino graced the said event and talked about her experiences when she joined the 14th ship for SSEAYP. She also extended her heartfelt appreciation to the ASEAN embassies and the Japanese cabinet office for making the event possible.

"I am happy that this program includes the Japanese youth to promote cultural exchanges with other ASEAN youths," said the Princess.

Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Office Akihiro Nishimura delivered the opening remarks. The representatives of ASEAN embassies also rendered their speeches and signed the banner with a slogan "Bon Voyage," the symbol of strong and close friendship of ASEAN youths.

The opening ceremony was immediately followed with performances of youth participants of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Lao P.D.R.,Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines and Japan, respectively.

Apart from this, they will also be involved in activities like institutional visits and home stays in participating countries, discussion groups, cultural presentations, and other goodwill exchanges.

This year's Philippine delegation, "Pagsikat" led by NYC Commisioner Raul Dominic "Dino" Badilla are among the more than 300 Asian youth leaders who will sail the seas onboard Japanese luxury ship Nippon Maru in a cultural exchange program that would last for six weeks.

The program ended with a remarkable presentation as youth leaders and the audience joined together in singing "We Are the World."

Exhibition booths of participating countries were also displayed at the reception hall of the venue.

The SSEAYP is done annualy and is sponsored by the Japanese government and supported by the ASEAN countries.

BRIEF SSEAYP HISTORY

In 1974, the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) was inaugurated, based on a joint statement issued by Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Brunei Darussalam joined in 1985, Vietnam in 1995, Lao P.D.R. and Myanmar in 1998, and Cambodia in 1999.

*published in the Dec '07 issue of "What's Up", Philippine Digest Magazine*

*photos by Florenda Corpuz*