36 Lao students leave for Japan

36 Lao students leave for Japan

(KPL) On 22 June 2013, a group of 36 Lao university and college students departed from Wattay International Airport to Japan to join a youth exchange program called "JENESYS 2.0". The students will stay in Japan from June 23 to 30, 2013.

"JENESYS 2.0" is a youth exchange program launched by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in January 2013, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. This is the 3rd batch of �JENESYS 2.0", which is aimed to enhance ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Youth Network.

More than 300 students applied for this batch, and the best 36 were selected by the committee consisting of Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos and Embassy of Japan. Those students were selected among three different background studies, such as (1) Economics & Social Sciences, (2) Science & Technology and Arts and (3) Creative works & Culture.

Those 36 Lao students, together with the students from other ASEAN member countries, will visit Tokyo and local provinces (Chubu, Kansai or Kyusyu area) to learn about Japanese culture, society and industry. They will also spend time with Japanese university students. Through these experiences, the Lao students are supposed to learn about the practical knowledge on Japan's experiences to develop their own country, and to create fellowship with their Southeast Asian and Japanese peers.

This program is expected to develop exchange and mutual understanding between youths of Japan and ASEAN. The information about the next batches of "JENESYS 2.0"for Lao students will be released by Ministry of Education and Sports and the Embassy of Japan at an early date.