Taipei: Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attended a pre-departure event on Tuesday for Taiwanese high school students who will soon visit the United States and Canada as part of an annual government program promoting public diplomacy.

According to Focus Taiwan, during the Teen Diplomatic Envoys program's flag ceremony, Lin congratulated the 20 high school students who had been selected from five high schools in Taiwan. The schools chosen for this year's program include Taipei Fuhsing Private School, Taipei's Chingshin Academy, Changhua's Ching Cheng High School, Taichung's Ming-Der Senior High School, and Taipei First Girls High School. These schools were selected from among 300 applicants.

Now in its 21st year, the Teen Diplomatic Envoys program has already sent 58 groups, totaling more than 230 high school students overseas. The initiative aims to help students broaden their international outlooks while showcasing the creativity and vitality of Taiwan's younger generation. Lin noted that the program aligns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' goal of promoting public diplomacy.

The students will be divided into two groups, with one traveling to Vancouver, Seattle, and San Francisco, while the other will visit Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston. Starting on February 3, the 11-day trip will include stops at political, educational, and cultural institutions, as well as international and nongovernmental organizations. The delegation will also meet with politicians, academics, and students, according to MOFA.

Jointly organized by MOFA and the Ministry of Education, the program has been held annually since 2002, except in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.