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Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center Launches Student Exchange Program to Palau

August 29, 2018 in Local News / Beches el Chais

For Immediate Release
Serial No. PR-18-142
August 22, 2018
Office of the President

Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center Launches Student Exchange Program to Palau

A group of high school students from Japan’s northern prefecture of Hokkaido is on island this week participating in the first exchange visit organized by the Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center.  Chaperoned by two teachers and the program coordinator, the group comprises of freshmen and sophomores, attending different high schools of the prefecture.

On August 22, President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. hosted lunch for the young people where he welcomed them and expressed support for the program. “People to people exchange leads to understanding and appreciation for our respective cultures and history, and the friendship between our two countries. I’m happy to see young people like yourselves participating in this program and I am confident you will work with your Palau counterparts to nurture and strengthen the strong the strong relationship between our two countries,” the President said.

While in Palau, the students participated in homestays – living with local families to experience Palau’s culture and traditions. They also visited Palau High School where they made many friends, toured the Koror State Recycling Center, and spent a day in Peleliu.

President Remengesau hopes this week’s visit will be the first of a regular student exchange program between Palau and Hokkaido.

The concept for the exchange program was initiated by the President during a visit to Hokkaido in 2016, where he proposed the initiative to Hokkaido’s executive and legislative leaders.

The creation of this exchange program is one of the results from the commitments made between Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Remengesau during the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 7) to accelerate exchange among younger generations of the two countries.

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