Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung attended the closing ceremony of a two-week training program for youths from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies July 31 in Taipei City, anticipating that participants would return home to help promote development in their countries.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first class of the “2025 Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative—Diplomatic Allies Inbound Track Program” involved 24 participants from the Kingdom of Eswatini, Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu.
During the ceremony, Lin said the program is an extension of the “Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative,” which was launched by President Lai Ching-te to encourage youths to broaden their international horizons. He commended the course as a catalyst for knowledge exchange and for giving new momentum to Taiwan’s relationship with allies.
Participants from Eswatini focused on smart agricultural technology, especially in the applications of automated cultivation, precision irrigation and smart sensors. The minister encouraged them to help their fellow farmers better adapt to climate change in the African country.
Trainees from the three Pacific Island states developed sustainable tourism insights while also balancing the need to conserve cultural resources, protect the environment and bolster local industry. Lin anticipated that they would become key players in promoting sustainable development in their home countries.
In addition to the intensive training, the MOFA said participants also took part in field trips and visited cultural sites to gain deeper understanding of Taiwan. Highlights included touring Lukang old streets in the central county of Changhua, visiting Taipei 101 and attending a baseball game at Taipei Dome. (SFC-E)
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