| Danial Norjidi |
THE Asean-Korea Centre has announced that it will be carrying out the Asean-Korea Youth Network Workshop 2016 on August 1-10.
The Asean-Korea Centre is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to promote economic and socio-cultural cooperation between Asean member states and Korea.
In a press release yesterday, the Asean-Korea Centre announced that it was organising the workshop together with the Asean Studies Centre of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, and that it will be taking place in Korea and Thailand under the theme of ‘Marine Conservation – Promoting the Sustainable Use of Coastal and Marine Resources’.
It was explained that the workshop is composed of an inbound programme which will take place in Seoul, Busan, and Suncheon, Korea (August 1-4) as well as an outbound programme in Bangkok, Amphawa, and Chanthaburi, Thailand (August 5-10) respectively.
This year, for the first time, students from China and Japan who were recruited in collaboration with the Asean-China Centre and the Asean-Japan Centre will join the inbound programme.
A total of 80 students from 13 countries will engage in activities such as Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve experience, Busan City exploration, visits to the relevant organisations such as the Korea National Maritime Museum, the KOEM Marin Environment Research and Training Institute, and the KIOST South Sea Research Institute, lectures by experts on Asean-Korea relations and marine conservation, UCC video making and cultural exchanges.
The closing ceremony for the inbound programme is to be held at the Asean-Korea Centre on August 4, where the UCC presentation and performances by the students as well as the awarding ceremony for the best groups will be conducted, and Asean ambassadors and diplomats are expected to attend the event.
Meanwhile, the outbound programme in Thailand will be participated by 20 of Asean-Korea Youth Ambassadors who were recruited with an aim to play a key role in bridging Asean students who are in Korea and in Asean, and 100 students from 10 Asean membercountries.
Participating youths will enhance their knowledge on marine conservation through activities such as mangrove trees planting and skiing in the mud, visits to the relevant sites such as Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre, Bangkok city exploration, and lectures by experts.
A ten-day-long workshop is expected to offer a special opportunity for the Asean and Korean youth, the future leaders of the two regions, to learn the issue of the marine conservation through variety of activities, as well as to forge a long-lasting friendship.
It is also stated in the press release, “With a coastline of 173,000km, the Asean region houses 35% of the world’s mangrove forests and about 30% of the coral reefs. However, the non-sustainable utilisation and exploitation of marine resources in Asean have led to grave environmental degradation.
“In order to achieve a sustainable marine environment against the backdrop of social changes and economic development, Asean has put enormous efforts in sustainable management of ecosystems and natural resources. Korea, as one of the major dialogue partners of Asean has supported those efforts in various ways.”
It is also noted that leaders of Asean and Korea agreed to promote cooperation for the protection and conservation of marine environment, and sustainability of the oceans as outlined in the Asean-ROK Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2016-2020).
Kim Young-sun, Secretary General of the Asean-Korea Centre is quoted in the press release as saying, “Since 2013, the Asean-Korea Youth Network Workshop has served as a platform for the youth from Asean and Korea to engage in a dialogue on a wide range of issues, and over 300 youth from the two regions has built friendship so far.
“I wish this year’s workshop could offer a meaningful opportunity for the future leaders of Asean and Korea to gain perspective and knowledge on one of the key issues for Asean to achieve ‘a sustainable and resilient community’,” he added.
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