40 Taiwanese youth ambassadors to visit Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Guam

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) A group of 40 Taiwanese students aged 18 to 35 will visit the Marshall Islands, Hawaii and Guam later this month, as part of an annual government-funded youth ambassadorship program, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official said Tuesday.

Chiang Zhen-wei (江振瑋), head of MOFA's Department of NGO International Affairs, told a weekly news briefing that the 40 youth ambassadors were currently undergoing a mandatory two weeks of training before embarking on their 12-day trips from Aug. 20 to 31.

Among the group, 20 were selected for their good command of English and 20 for their special talents in the performing arts, or other outstanding skills, Chiang said.

While in the Marshall Islands, Hawaii and Guam, the student ambassadors will engage in people-to-people exchanges with local politicians and young people. Their itinerary also includes volunteer work and music and dance performances, according to Chiang.

"The program will showcase Taiwanese culture through talent as well as promoting a diverse cultural landscape and image of freedom, democracy and openness," he said.

More than 1,800 Taiwanese undergraduate and graduate students have participated in the annual International Youth Ambassadors Program since it began in 2009, according to MOFA.

The Marshall Islands is among the 12 countries around the world that formally recognize the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan.