Vientiane: Japanese high school students recently visited Laos as part of an initiative to promote youth exchange between the two nations. During their stay, the delegation met with Lao high school students and attended a lecture by the Japan International Cooperation Agency on the history of cooperation between the two countries.
According to Lao News Agency, the delegation was composed of seven students aged 16-18 and three supervisors from the Gunma Federation of World Youth. This organization has been promoting international youth exchange since its establishment in 1974. The visit was organized in collaboration with the Lao Alumni Youth Club for Friendship Program, an internal body of the Lao Youth Union and an alumni association for Lao participants in Japanese exchange programs.
The exchange initiative was a follow-up to a visit to Gunma in 2024 by LAYCFP President Yangpao Payaveu, who was invited by Yoshimasa Sumiya, chairman of the Gunma Federation of World Youth. Both parties agreed to launch a youth exchange program to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan in 2025.
As part of their itinerary, the students explored significant temples in Vientiane, attended a JICA lecture on Laos-Japan cooperation, and paid a courtesy visit to Mina Sivilay, Deputy Secretary-General of the Lao Youth Union. They also engaged with Lao high school students, where initial nervousness gave way to meaningful exchanges facilitated by conversations in English and the sharing of social media contacts.
The delegation’s journey continued to Vang Vieng, where they immersed themselves in Laos’s natural beauty, local markets, and traditional cuisine. One of the participants, 18-year-old Maeda Sawa, expressed that the visit offered her a fresh perspective on Laos. “After visiting and experiencing the kindness of the people, Laos now feels very close to me,” she remarked, expressing her desire to return in the future.