IV Asian Youth Forum
May 19-26,2002
It is my great pleasure to be present at the gathering of youth from Asian countries attending the Fourth Asian Youth Forum today. On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the Ministry of University Affairs, I wish to extend to all of you a warm and cordial welcome to our country and to Bangkok. The world is now truly the global village it was once envisaged to be. Countries have become more inter-connected and interdependent and this will continue to be more so in the future. At this crossroads, we have been facing many challenges which have had impacts on our lives and societies. The first challenge is the impacts of globalization. The globalization process has brought with it numerous benefits, especially for those countries that have been able to take advantage of the market liberalization and technological breakthroughs currently being made. For the less developed countries, globalization has been fraught with difficulties and seemingly insurmountable challenges, marginalizing those less prepared even further. Our second challenge is the rapid development,of information and communication technology (ICT). The world gets much smaller through innovation and discoveries employing new technologies. E-commerce will be operated regionwide in the near future and bring about benefits to both manufacturers and consumers. However, the instant and almost unlimited access to information is wonderful for those who could take advantage of the best of what is available. The third component that I see as our big challenge is the impact of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. An open and free trade environment will create opportunities for increased international investment and trade resulting in new avenues and challenges for every kind of enterprise. This will allow customers to enjoy greater choices and better quality products. The targeted goals toward trade and investment liberalization and facilitation both in WTO and APEC frameworks, once realized, will foster mobility of workforce within and across the region. To cope with these challenges I have mentioned, our new generation needs to develop their full potentials in order to stay competitive in the global market and be able to reap the most benefits of globalization. In shaping our future into a knowledge-based society, the sense for life-long learning has to be nurtured. Life-long learning is essential and we all can never stop learning as there are many things we have to learn and many new ones arising for us to learn every day. Through continuous efforts, we will be able to stay in the competitive edge and earn as we have made sure that we have sufficient knowledge of the world movements and have been able to make best use of it for our livelihood. Motivation for life-long learning should be created and Thailand sees that this kind of youth gathering on the theme of “Human Development-A Youth Perspective” could well serve the purpose. Initiative and continuous efforts of Assumption University and UNESCO-Regional Unit for Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO - RUSHSAP) in organizing the Asian Youth Forum are commendable since such a forum will provide an opportunity for youth to exercise their critical thinking, team management and leadership ability. They would also learn to appreciate diversity and differences among countries and establish good relationship among themselves This will hopefully lead to a wider scope of exchange and cooperation in the future. I have every confidence that this forum will serve as an overture for all our young people gathering here in Bangkok to have an exchange forum, to create good relations, to expand the networking and best of all, to sustain their friendship. Finally, it is my hope that all delegates will find their stay pleasant and memorable. I also hope you find this function a valuable asset for your life in the future. The success does depend a great deal on all of you. As time is now auspicious, I wish to declare open the Fourth Asian Youth Forum. Thank you.
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A commemorative photo of the IV Asian Youth Forum organised at Bang Na campus on May 19: The Minister for University Affairs H.E. Suwat Liptapanlop stands between the Rector and Vice Rector for Financial Affairs.
The Minister for University Affairs and the Rector in conversation at the reception room of the John Paul II Conference Centre before commemcement of the IV Asian Youth Forum.
H.E. Suwat Liptapanlop, Minister for University Affairs with Rector Komolmas at the opening session of the IV Asian Forum held at the John Paul II Conference Centre, Bang Na campus.
Student artistes entertaining delegates to the Youth Forum.