Ship for Southeast ASEAN Youth Programme 2013

BANGKOK, October 15 (TNA) - About 30 Thai youths will join their counterparts from Japan and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Ship for Southeast ASEAN Youth Programme 2013, set to start at the end of this month. A total of about 300 young people from Japan and the 10-member ASEAN bloc will embark on the ship, called Nippon Maru, to leave a Japanese port on October 28 and will visit four ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. This year’s programme is the 40th annual event and it also marks the 40th anniversary of the Japan-ASEAN Exchange. The 50-day trip is aimed at strengthening relations between Japanese and ASEAN younger generations through activities under the annual Ship for Southeast ASEAN Youth Programme, along with promoting their cultural exchange prior to the formation of the ASEAN Community by 2015. During the trip, the regional young participants will exchange their views through discussions on several issues, namely the environment, education and even international relations. The regional youths will also have a good opportunity to learn more about each other cultures and to join in social activities when the ship docks at each destination, where they will stay with local host families. (TNA)