President Johnson Toribiong led the event as he welcomed the seven-member delegation led by Professor Wang Jin-lian and six outstanding students from the Fu-ren Catholic University, one of the renowned higher education institutions in Taiwan.
Taiwan Ambassador to Palau Maggie Tien said the inspiration to plant trees was from Toribiong’s campaign 25 years ago of protecting the environment.Tien said when the president first served as lawmaker in the first Palau National Congress he introduced a resolution which encourages the planting of trees in Palau.Tien said 25 years after, the campaign has been resurrected.Toribiong addressing the students which also included Palau High School students said that “friendship, like plants should be cultivated.”The students and Palauan leaders planted kingkang (calamansi) trees along the road to the Capitol grounds.The summer camp event is the first attempt of its kind between the Taiwan government and Palau. The IYAIP program offers a variety of courses and activities, including math, science, computer skills, Chinese culture, sports, music and dance. The activities lined up also include community services on July 14. These events are designed to encourage civism of the youngsters.The camp will allow youngsters from the two countries learn from each other, understanding better mutual tradition and culture, but also form solid bastion of friendship. The camp will run from July 6 to July 24.The 2009 IYAIP program are being launched in all six Pacific diplomatic allies of the Republic of China, comprising Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands and Palau. The ROC Embassy in Palau expresses that it hopes the IYAIP implemented in Palau prove to be among the best and most successful ones.
