 Hello, and welcome to the program. My name is Virginia Leonti. The Youth Ambassadors Program will see some 40 students from the Republic of China and Taiwan engaging in cross-cultural activities here in St. Lucia. Here in the studio with me to discuss the Youth Ambassadors Program is the Ambassador of the Republic of China, Taiwan, to St. Lucia, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Chen. Hello, and welcome, Ambassador. Thank you. Thank you for having me. So can you give us an overview of the Youth Ambassadors Program? When did it start? Yes, the Youth Ambassador Program, the full name of it is the International Youth Ambassador Exchange Program, and it was launched in 2009 by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, Taiwan. And the first group to St. Lucia is 2010. And for that program, we send a university student, we call Youth Ambassador, to our diplomatic allies and some other country to showcase the existed good friendship and also try to enhance mutual understanding. And since 2010, we send the first group to St. Lucia till 2015. So this year is the first group that we sent to St. Lucia post COVID. So we're really looking forward to this engagement and this exchange. And the theme of this year is youth innovation, Taiwan, St. Lucia, tech action. So we're really looking forward for the youth exchange. But what motivated, what brought about this idea? How did your government, what motivated your government to come up with such an idea for a youth cultural exchange program? Yes, I think the main purpose is just, as I say, to showcase the good relationship that already existed and try to enhance the mutual understanding. However, I think everybody know youth is our future. So our government really pay attention of the development of youth. So that's why we create this youth ambassador program, trying to, for one hand, to showcase the good relationship, and the other hand, to help expand the horizon of Taiwanese youth. And I think, for that point of view, Taiwan and St. Lucia share the same value. So that's why I think that's why Arab Prime Minister Filii J. Pierre launched youth economy policy. And when the youth ambassador visits St. Lucia, we work with the youth economy agency. We will organize youth forum for the youth between Taiwan and St. Lucia can exchange their point of view. Wonderful. So what specific engagements will the youth from Taiwan be participating in? Hey, and how do you think it could improve the bilateral relations between the Republic of China and Taiwan and St. Lucia? For this time, we work with Ministry of Education, and Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture, and arrange several different kinds of programs, including exchange with students in St. Louis Community College. We will launch cultural experience camps in two secondary schools and two primary schools. And also, we will have some exchange and all some interaction with youth members of parliament. And so there's a diverse arrangement for different kinds of interaction and also through the support of Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Authority, we will be able to make all these students to visit some of the beautiful scenery in St. Lucia. For example, like Piton or volcano or some other beautiful beach. So through all those exchanges, I'm hoping that our youth ambassador can get to know more about the culture, about the way of life in St. Lucia. For example, you have rich culture, from jazz, from carnival, from emancipation, law wars, Lama Gray quail. So all those cultural essence are quite different from Taiwan, but actually there's some similarity. So I would like our students to get to know the similarity because the similarity is actually something that can bring two countries closer. But the different parts actually can amplify both of us. So I think that will help them to know more about each other. And of course, the students that engage with the youth ambassador will also learn a lot about Taiwan. And I think social media and all those devices actually help not only the people who really do the exchange get to know each other, but the people through all those media coverage, they will also know about Taiwan and Taiwanese people through the videos, through the words, through the photos that youth ambassador posts on their social media. They will be able to know more about St. Lucia. And I hope in the future there will be more engagement in the future. And for that, I think we'll have a big impact and a broad and deeper impact in the good relationship in the future of both our country. You spoke, Ambassador, about mentioning some of our cultural activities, like LaRus, Carnival, et cetera, et cetera. What are some of the cultural activities or cultural events with the youth from the Republic of China on Taiwan be presenting or engaging with or showcasing two other significant youth? From Taiwan, for this group, there are 40 students specialized in different aspects. For example, Diabolo is a kind of very popular children for game and traditional opera, oriental instrument, folk dance. So for that, they will share with the students from South East Community College to exchange program with them or local art group and also the students from the secondary school and the primary school. And vice versa, they will also learn the local dance. They will also learn the local music from the art group, from the students that they share experience. Thank you so much. We are speaking with Ambassador Peter Chen, the Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan to St. Lu Xia. We are due for a break. But when we come back, we will be speaking on the robust scholarship program between the Republic of China and Taiwan and St. Lu Xia. The Ministry of Agriculture presents a cassava and coconut festival Sunday, August 27 at the Mikun Plainfield from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. enhancing our food and nutrition security. Festival Coco. A cassava with you. Mami ku ii ka pui ku. Podi koko e kori cassava. It is amazing. Now, I think I need a shy entertainment from the best. Tea blocks, ocean, king Arthur, ompa, invader, Ezra, live on silly and lots more. Food and drinks will be on sale. Kids' corner available. And the admission is totally free. So it's a nice day for the family. Like I need a low-plum coconut program. So let's rebuild the cassava and coconut industry. The Cassava and Coconut Festival. Sunday, August 27. The program. I am your host, Virgilion Ti, and I am speaking with the Ambassador of the Republic of China, Taiwan, to St. Lu Xia. It is excellent, see, Peter Chen. Ambassador, there is a change to the program. I think earlier on, you were speaking. You were saying that initially the format of the youth international youth exchange program saw various groups going to separate countries. And post-COVID, I think there was a change in the makeup, the composition, or the format of this cultural exchange. Could you elaborate a bit on this? In the beginning, we sent out several groups with less students to different countries at the same time and tried to engage more of the world. And I think that's also one of the major, or one way that we explore our youth to different culture and different countries. And because post-COVID, due to the restriction of traveling and also the concern about the spray of COVID. So last year, we resumed this program, but we only arranged a group of students to one country. So in that case, that would be more easy to control and also for the health issue. And this year, we also do that. And so we are really grateful that my government decided to send a group of youth ambassadors to St. Lu Xia and that I think will be a very good point for showcasing the good relationship between Taiwan and St. Lu Xia. I was going to say that imagine St. Lu Xia being the country that is chosen is a reflection of the quality of the relations between your country and our country, Mr. Ambassador. And I must say thank you to you and your country for that, your ambassador. Can you elaborate for us on the long-term impact you think this program will have on the bilateral relations between your country and St. Lu Xia? Since 2007, Taiwan resumed diplomatic ties with St. Lu Xia. We have all different kinds of cooperation between the government of Republic of China, Taiwan and the government of St. Lu Xia in terms of infrastructure, health, agriculture, education, ICT. And all of that actually is the base of the good relation and also the long-term relation between our two countries. But for that, I think cultural exchange is also one of the critical components that can bring people from two countries together. So since I arrived, we work with cultural development foundation and Ministry of Culture to promote cultural exchange. For example, in 2021, with the help of the Ministry of Culture of Republic of China, Taiwan, we implement a project called Taiwan Spallite. So we, Taiwan Spallite project, and we bring bamboo artists from Taiwan to exchange their, share their experience with local artists. And last year, we have Lenten artists organize a workshop with local artists. And this year, we brought jazz artists to work with local jazz artists. And they even put on a show in the last day of jazz festival. So all of that is our cultural exchange we are doing. And for you, Mr. Ambassador, I think one of the very important purpose is also cultural exchange. And I think cultural exchange has brought very deep and profound impact of mutual understanding of two countries. So I think that will be a long-term impact. And as I say, use is our future. So now we have our future leader doing exchange programs. So I believe this will have a long-term impact. And through this engagement, I think that will encourage many young students to thinking of pursue their higher education in Taiwan. And Taiwan also provides scholarship. So we're looking forward to have more prominent students going to Taiwan. And also for people who view this program or who get information from all the media for solution, they probably will think, okay, I'm going to Taiwan to visit all those beautiful places that were introduced by the youth ambassador. And for Taiwanese, they probably say, oh, okay, I want to come here to really have a taste of the world-leading honeymoon destination. So I think that will have a long-term impact. Wonderful. Ambassador, you speak about the cultural visits if you may, that Taiwan exposed our country to. You spoke about the lantern artisans who came to showcase their skill also during the jazz festival. And so we have been exposed to a lot of the cultural aspects of China. And as you see, this is an important aspect in our relations. And the youth themselves are coming down and doing a similar thing. And they, in turn, will be exposed to what our youth will be doing. So do you expect that your students from the Republic of China and Taiwan will be able to take back some of our own cultural norms over to the Republic of China and Taiwan? Sure. I think they will have good experience here. And when they go back, they will definitely share their experience to their classmates, to their family, to their friends. And during their visit here, I think they will post a lot of information on their Facebook, on their Instagram, on their Twitter. So that, I think, has a very big influence to people because now people catch information from all those social media. And I think that will boost the awareness of Taiwanese about what is Senucia and how beautiful is our diplomatic analysis. OK. Now you briefly touched on, in your previous answer, Ambassador, you briefly touched on the Taiwanese scholarship program. I want us to just spend a little time on this. This, what it means to Saint Lucians and even to local communities, it has definitely created an impact in our country. And for that, we are eternally grateful for that. What does it mean to you and your country to be sustaining that kind of partnership through the scholarship program? Because it is a robust scholarship program. It has been going on for a while. Many Saint Lucians have benefited, have been able to come back and just implement what they have learned over there. And this is one area where we see, apart from agriculture and so many others, but in the area of education and this scholarship program, it has really created an impact. Just speak to us about this, what it means to you to, for this kind of program to be continuing and its impact. Capacity building is one of the critical component of the cooperation between Taiwan and Senucia. And we really take serious about how to help solution to build up capacity. And scholarship program is one of the important part of this capacity building cooperation. So we really are trying to help a good solution student to pursue their higher education in Taiwan. And because the student, after they study in Taiwan, they have very good feedback. So it becomes a very popular program. And every year, we have a lot of applicants. So the selection of the scholarship award is actually quite fierce competition. And since, I think, last year, when honorable prime minister of Egypt visited Taiwan, honorable education minister, Sean Edwards, and also honorable minister, external affairs minister, Abba Baptiste, when they visit Taiwan, they send very strong a message request for increase the scholarship. And my government responds that this year. So this year, we actually increased 10 more scholarships for a solution student. So this year, along with then, 39 prominent solution students to Taiwan for their higher education. And that, I believe, will create tremendous impact in the relationship. Because some of the students, they study in Taiwan. They make a lot of Taiwanese friends. And as I say, they have very good feedback about their journey of study in Taiwan. And some of them even get married in Taiwan. So that will create a very good and harmony relationship between, among people to people, between two countries. And after their graduate from the university, a lot of them come back to Senutia. And some now working in the government, some working in hospital. And because some of them major in medical service, so they were in hospital, and some were in the private sectors. And I think all of them will become a force of the development of Senutia. And I think that's the impact we want to see. And we are already seeing some good outcome. Wonderful. My final question, Ambassador, although it is not directly in the preview. But since you spoke about capacity building, and you did mention earlier in the interview about the youth economy agency, I know that you're involved. Could you just speak to us about your country's involvement with the youth economy agency, how you were able to assist in the capacity building of young people? I think both Taiwan and Senutia really pay attention and value the importance of youth. So since the prime minister launched youth economy policy, Taiwan are really keen to provide assistance. So in 2021, I actually signed a letter of intent with our prime minister to launch a program we call Youth and Women Economic Empowerment Program. So since then, we are already doing a lot of workshop, a lot of classes, or even incubator program to help youth and women. And since youth economy agency established, we will always use economy agency to implement some business planning classes. And you can see that I think the first part we trained about 100 youth. And you can tell the difference from the opening ceremony and the graduation ceremony. So I'm really glad and proud to be part of that project. And also, I think 80% of the participants, they also get angel funds from Taiwan. We provide, although not a big amount of resources, but I think that will help them to start their business. So I believe that is a very good program to help youth and help the development of the community. And we're still working with youth economy agency, and we will implement some other project later on. Thank you so much, Ambassador Peter Chen, his Excellency, the ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan to St. Lucia, speaking to us here on the youth program, which will commence here from September 4th. We will be giving out more information on this. So thank you so much for the government information service, and we'll see you again soon.