The Fifth ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Youth (5th AMMY+3) was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 4 June 2015. The Meeting was held in conjunction with the Ninth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY IX) and was preceded by the Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting for the 5th AMMY+3 on 3 June 2015.
The Meeting was officially opened and co-chaired by His Excellency Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport of Kingdom of Cambodia and (H.E) Assistant Minister Aelee Shon of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea. H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron welcomed all Ministers and their delegations to the meeting and to Cambodia, where he also expressed his appreciation for the initiatives and activities carried out under Brunei Darussalam’s chairmanship, which further strengthened regional partnership in youth affairs and development in the region towards the ASEAN Community 2015.
The Ministers noted the relevant decisions of other ASEAN Meetings since they last met in 2013 and exchanged views on the future priority areas of ASEAN Plus Three cooperation on youth in line with the directives given by the ASEAN Plus Three Leaders. In this connection, the Ministers stressed on the importance of fostering long-term and mutually beneficial youth exchanges through effective and practical youth cooperation activities.
The ASEAN Ministers expressed their appreciation to the Plus Three countries for their continuous support and friendship in organising youth exchange programmes. The Ministers noted that China continues to organize the China-ASEAN Youth Camp, GMS Youth Friendship Program and the ASEAN Young Leaders Training Program, to further promote the mutual trust and understanding between the Chinese and ASEAN young people, and contribute to the regional economic development and social cooperation. China will continue to send young volunteers to ASEAN countries according to their practical necessity, engaging in the field of the local economy, education, sports development, language teaching, healthcare, etc. The Ministers also took note that China has been actively preparing and proceeding with the establishment of China-ASEAN Youth Exchange and Activity Center, with the aim of providing a permanent headquarter with better facilities and environment for the China-ASEAN youth exchanges and activities.
The Ministers noted that Japan has implemented the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) with the support of ASEAN Member States since 1974 to promote friendship and mutual understanding between youth in Japan and ASEAN. With the aim to strengthen “heart-to-heart” understanding, “JENESYS 2.0″ (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) was successfully implemented in various themes from 2013 to 2015 under Japan’s initiative. The ASEAN Ministers welcomed the subsequent project “JENESYS2015″, which aims at promoting mutual trust and understanding among the youths of Japan and participating countries to build basis for future friendship and cooperation.
The Ministers acknowledged that the Republic of Korea has promoted mutual understanding between Korea and ASEAN Member States by consistently implementing the Intergovernmental Youth Exchange Program, and various exchange programs through youth organizations and has supported interactions and cooperation between youth of ASEAN Member States and Plus Three countries by holding events including International Youth Forum and Youth Camp for Asia’s Future annually. The 16th ASEAN-Korea Future-Oriented Youth Exchange Project was held in January 2015 to promote cross-cultural understanding and trust between ASEAN and ROK youths, with the theme ‘ASEAN-Korea Youths, United as One through Sports Activities’. In addition, the 5th ASEAN-Korea Frontier Forum was held in November 2014 in Busan that provided the youth participants with a simulation forum and a model of ASEAN-ROK Summit, where they can voice out their opinion, debate responsibly and practice public speaking skills.
The Ministers commended SOMY+3 for strengthening mutual understanding between the youths in ASEAN Plus Three countries. They shared views in promoting social dialogues and people-to-people exchanges including exchanging views on youth policy and youth cooperation projects between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries.
The Ministers looked forward to engaging more youth cooperation in efforts to building peace, stability and a brighter future for younger generations in East Asia.
The Ministers expressed their appreciation to Kingdom of Cambodia for hosting the 5th AMMY+3 and looked forward to meet again in 2017 in Indonesia.
