TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with 47 members of an international youth ambassador program on Monday at the Presidential Office, reaffirming the government’s commitment to expanding overseas opportunities for young people.

Lai said more than 1,400 young people participated in the program last year and that the government plans to scale it up so disadvantaged youth, as well as those from rural areas, have greater opportunities to pursue their dreams abroad. He said traveling overseas should be an achievable goal for every young person, per a press release.

He described the program as a strong example of Taiwan’s public diplomacy, allowing the country to step onto the global stage and be seen by the world.

Since taking office, Lai said he has actively promoted the Youth Overseas Dream Fund, a four-year initiative with a budget of NT$10 billion (US$307.3 million) aimed at sending young people aged 15 to 30 abroad for international exchanges, internships, and professional training.

Lai said more than 1,400 young people took part in the program last year, and the government plans to further expand its scale and number of participants this year. He said the expansion will better meet the needs of disadvantaged, rural, Indigenous, and special needs youth.

“Investing in youth is investing in the future,” Lai said, adding that the government will continue to integrate resources across ministries to turn the successful experiences of youth ambassadors into a broader platform, making “going international” a realistic goal for all Taiwanese youth.

He said the initiative will extend Taiwan’s influence into diverse fields and communities worldwide, with Taiwanese youth helping to make the world a better place through their actions.

Lai also expressed hope that each participant would serve as an outstanding ambassador for Taiwan, telling the world that Taiwan is a free, democratic, diverse, and vibrant society, and warmly inviting people to “come to Taiwan and experience its beauty.”

Youth ambassador Wu Chia-ying (吳佳穎) shared her experience during the event, saying she works as a junior communications officer for the Navy while pursuing graduate studies at the Graduate Institute of Translation at National Taiwan Normal University.

Wu said the trip allowed her to experience the Pacific Ocean from a new perspective. She said visiting the USS Arizona and USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, as well as World War II historical sites in Guam, deepened her understanding of Taiwan’s importance in safeguarding peace in the Pacific.

Several other youth ambassadors also expressed gratitude for the program, saying it provides strong support for young people eager to explore the world. They said their achievements reflect the program’s success.