January 24, 2024
No. 040
On January 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) held a flag presentation ceremony for the 20th Teen Diplomatic Envoys delegation. The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kelly Wu-Chiao Hsieh, who presented the Teen Diplomatic Envoys flag to the three winning teams in the 2023 selection program—Taipei Fuhsing Private School, Tainan Chang Jung Senior High School, and Taipei Wego Private Senior High School. Hsu Li-chuan, Deputy Director-General of the K-12 Education Administration under the Ministry of Education (MOE); Daniel Stuart, Deputy Representative at the Australian Office, Taipei; and principals, teachers, and students’ parents were also in attendance.
MOFA and the MOE have arranged for the 15-member Teen Diplomatic Envoys delegation to visit Sydney, Australia, as well as Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand, from January 28 to February 7. The 11-day trip will include stops at political, educational, and cultural institutions; international organizations; and nongovernmental organizations in both countries. The delegation will also meet with local political and academic figures as well as students.
In remarks to begin the ceremony, Deputy Minister Hsieh congratulated the three winning teams and expressed gratitude for the guidance provided by teachers and the support of schools and parents. He also wished the delegation a fruitful journey.
Deputy Director-General Hsu said that she hoped students would continue to improve their English ability and maintain their interest in international affairs, praising the performance of the three winning teams. Deputy Representative Stuart emphasized that youth exchanges are foundational to the Taiwan-Australia friendship. He then extolled the magnificent scenery and cultural diversity of Australia, encouraging young people to pursue further education in Australia.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the program, MOFA organized a special essay contest for past participants. Winner Hu Huai-yu received an award and prize money at the ceremony. She shared her experiences with the program and how participating as a Teen Diplomatic Envoy had been an inspiration. A highlight reel of this year’s competition, recapping exciting moments from the preliminary and final rounds, was also screened at the ceremony.
Since 2002, MOFA and MOE have jointly held the Teen Diplomatic Envoys selection program. Arranging for overseas visits for winning teams, the agencies aim to expand the international participation of youth and showcase a positive image of Taiwan’s young generation in countries visited. Over the past 20 years, approximately 2,500 teams and over 10,000 students have participated, with 55 winning teams composed of over 200 senior high school students visiting nations in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania for exchanges, building international friendship to great acclaim.（E）