The annual cultural exchange programme between the young people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and The Gambia commenced Thursday at the Baobab Holiday Resort in Bijilo.

The Taiwan Youth Ambassadors, as they are called, arrived in the country on Wednesday for a two-week intensive skills and cultural exchange programme with Gambian youths, mainly from the University of The Gambia (UTG).  Six students from the College of Designs at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, accompanied by a professor are attending the two-week programme with students from the National Union of Gambian Students (NUGS).

Some of the key objectives of Taiwan Youth Ambassador (TYA) programme are to initiate series of goodwill missions around the world, exchange goodwill visits to sister cities, advocate Green Tech Solutions through field trips as well as establish new sister-cityhood during visits.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Amie Nyan, the deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad said Banjul-Taipei relations have increased in scope and strength over the years. She also described the annual youth ambassadors programme as a true manifestation to the cordial bilateral ties between the two countries.

DPS Nyan expressed confidence that at the end of the two-week engagement, the knowledge that the young people will acquire from one another will help them to take active roles in their national development.

Tom Lee, the chargé d’ affaires at the Taiwan Embassy in Banjul also extolled Gambia-Taiwan ties, saying the two countries are not only partners, but two brothers sharing common development objectives. He informed the gathering that annually, since 2010, the government of Taiwan has been dispatching young people from universities across Taiwan to serve as youth ambassadors to Taiwan’s ally countries to exchange culture.

Dr. Professor Shen-Guan Shih from the Department of Architecture at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, who accompanied the students, said the exchange programme would serve as a motivation for the young people.

Momodou Katim Touray, the deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology also told the gathering that the Gambia-Taiwan relationship is, and continues to be mutual since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1996.

He explained that apart from the cultural exchanges, the programme will further avail young Gambians the opportunity to acquire vocational skills. “Skills that are income generating in students will help them to contribute effectively to the socio-economic development of their countries,” he added.

The president of the National Union of Gambia Students, Sheikh Omar Bittaye, said the exchange programme would serve as a motivation to young Gambians to think creatively by putting what they learn into action. “The Gambia and Taiwan are mutually benefiting from each other,” he added.