City News
Date : 2026-09-03 Source : New Taipei City Government
New Taipei Youth Department’s "International Youth Talent Development Program" Leads Youth into Foreign Embassies to Broaden Global Horizons
[New Taipei City] How does a nation of merely 180,000 people produce two Nobel laureates and an Olympic gold medalist? The "2026 International Youth Talent Development Program," organized by the Youth Department of New Taipei City Government, led local youth to the front lines of diplomacy, concluding its two training cohorts with great success! Participants visited the India Taipei Association, the Embassy of Saint Christopher and Nevis, the German Institute Taipei, and the Embassy of Saint Lucia, engaging in direct discussions with resident diplomats on pressing global matters such as geopolitics and energy transition. Upon completing the program, participants will advance from "understanding the world" to "introducing New Taipei to the world" by designing foreign-language "Walking Tours" to guide international friends through Sanxia Old Street, actively practicing citizen diplomacy.
Marcia Qiu, Commissioner of the New Taipei City Youth Department, stated that given Taiwan’s unique international position and vulnerability to global shifts, young people must sharpen their sensitivity to international affairs and build capacities for intercultural friendships. The Youth Department continues to bridge citizen diplomacy through this program—spanning practical diplomacy coursework, visits to foreign representative missions in Taiwan, and hands-on planning of foreign-language city tours—enabling youth to move from understanding global issues to accumulating real-world intercultural communication experience. Moreover, she expressed delight in seeing past participants expand their global engagement, such as last year’s participant Wang Chi-ting, who built upon her training to undertake an overseas internship in Nepal, making citizen diplomacy an important choice for her future career path.
The Youth Department noted that the "2026 International Youth Talent Development Program" was held across two cohorts. The first cohort visited the India Taipei Association, where Deputy Director General Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad exchanged views with participants on the prospects of India-Taiwan educational, cultural, and sports cooperation, complemented by an engaging culinary experience introducing Indian culture through cuisine. They also called upon diplomatic ally the Embassy of Saint Christopher and Nevis, where H.E. Ambassador Donya Lynex Francis personally elaborated on the four decades of bilateral friendship and clean energy development, encouraging young people to step out of their comfort zones and stride boldly onto the world stage.
The second cohort visited the German Institute Taipei to explore energy transition, geopolitical landscapes, and the mitigation of disinformation with Director Karsten Tietz. Addressing information challenges brought by rapid AI developments, Director Tietz specially reminded the youth: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no one is entitled to fabricate facts," guiding them to reflect on the importance of cultivating critical thinking and fact-checking skills amid fast-flowing information.
Participants also visited the Embassy of Saint Lucia, Taiwan’s diplomatic ally in the Caribbean, where they were warmly received by H.E. Ambassador Robert Kennedy Lewis. Ambassador Lewis shared how Saint Lucia, with a population of only about 180,000, has nurtured two Nobel laureates and clinched the women’s 100-meter gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, proving that talents from small nations can also shine globally. He encouraged New Taipei youth to maintain an open mindset, engage boldly in cross-cultural exchanges, broaden their horizons through interactions with diverse nations and cultures, and steadily build confidence alongside international friendships.
Participant Yang, a student from the Department of Applied Foreign Languages at Chung Yuan Christian University, shared that direct interactions with frontline diplomats revealed that diplomacy goes beyond formal state relations to encompass nuanced cultural understanding; he hopes to combine his tour-guiding expertise to introduce the culture of Taiwan and New Taipei City to a wider audience in the future. Another participant, Huang, expressed that small-group exchanges among peers from diverse backgrounds sparked varied viewpoints, boosting her confidence in discussing international issues while expanding her cross-disciplinary network.
The Youth Department added that following the conclusion of both training cohorts, an "Advanced Practical Training" phase will follow. Participants will personally design and lead English "Walking Tours," guiding international friends through Sanxia Old Street to showcase its historic architecture, local culture, and unique community stories. This initiative transforms youth from passive listeners of international affairs into active agents connecting New Taipei with the globe, allowing more international friends to witness the creativity and dynamism of New Taipei youth.
Marcia Qiu, Commissioner of the New Taipei City Youth Department, stated that given Taiwan’s unique international position and vulnerability to global shifts, young people must sharpen their sensitivity to international affairs and build capacities for intercultural friendships. The Youth Department continues to bridge citizen diplomacy through this program—spanning practical diplomacy coursework, visits to foreign representative missions in Taiwan, and hands-on planning of foreign-language city tours—enabling youth to move from understanding global issues to accumulating real-world intercultural communication experience. Moreover, she expressed delight in seeing past participants expand their global engagement, such as last year’s participant Wang Chi-ting, who built upon her training to undertake an overseas internship in Nepal, making citizen diplomacy an important choice for her future career path.
The Youth Department noted that the "2026 International Youth Talent Development Program" was held across two cohorts. The first cohort visited the India Taipei Association, where Deputy Director General Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad exchanged views with participants on the prospects of India-Taiwan educational, cultural, and sports cooperation, complemented by an engaging culinary experience introducing Indian culture through cuisine. They also called upon diplomatic ally the Embassy of Saint Christopher and Nevis, where H.E. Ambassador Donya Lynex Francis personally elaborated on the four decades of bilateral friendship and clean energy development, encouraging young people to step out of their comfort zones and stride boldly onto the world stage.
The second cohort visited the German Institute Taipei to explore energy transition, geopolitical landscapes, and the mitigation of disinformation with Director Karsten Tietz. Addressing information challenges brought by rapid AI developments, Director Tietz specially reminded the youth: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no one is entitled to fabricate facts," guiding them to reflect on the importance of cultivating critical thinking and fact-checking skills amid fast-flowing information.
Participants also visited the Embassy of Saint Lucia, Taiwan’s diplomatic ally in the Caribbean, where they were warmly received by H.E. Ambassador Robert Kennedy Lewis. Ambassador Lewis shared how Saint Lucia, with a population of only about 180,000, has nurtured two Nobel laureates and clinched the women’s 100-meter gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, proving that talents from small nations can also shine globally. He encouraged New Taipei youth to maintain an open mindset, engage boldly in cross-cultural exchanges, broaden their horizons through interactions with diverse nations and cultures, and steadily build confidence alongside international friendships.
Participant Yang, a student from the Department of Applied Foreign Languages at Chung Yuan Christian University, shared that direct interactions with frontline diplomats revealed that diplomacy goes beyond formal state relations to encompass nuanced cultural understanding; he hopes to combine his tour-guiding expertise to introduce the culture of Taiwan and New Taipei City to a wider audience in the future. Another participant, Huang, expressed that small-group exchanges among peers from diverse backgrounds sparked varied viewpoints, boosting her confidence in discussing international issues while expanding her cross-disciplinary network.
The Youth Department added that following the conclusion of both training cohorts, an "Advanced Practical Training" phase will follow. Participants will personally design and lead English "Walking Tours," guiding international friends through Sanxia Old Street to showcase its historic architecture, local culture, and unique community stories. This initiative transforms youth from passive listeners of international affairs into active agents connecting New Taipei with the globe, allowing more international friends to witness the creativity and dynamism of New Taipei youth.
