As many as 113 students from 22 universities of ASEAN, Japan, China, and South Korea are gathering in The 15th ASEAN and the 5th ASEAN+3 Youth Cultural Forum, held at UGM.
From 1 – 5 November, those students will join activities organised by ASEAN University Network (AUN). This time it has the theme Revitalizing Cultural Diplomacy in Greater ASEAN.
ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum is an annual event and this time it was the third time for UGM to host it.
“It was a pride for UGM to be trusted to host the 3rd ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum after being hosts in 2011 and 2005,” said Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Alumni, Dr. Paripurna Sugarda, S.H., L.L.M., when opening the event on Wednesday (1/11) in the University Club UGM.
Paripurna expected the event would serve as the forum for the young generation of ASEAN, Japan, China, and South Korea to share ideas and build common understanding to create solutions to emerging issues, particularly world peace.
In advance, Executive Director of AUN , Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti, said ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum had been running since 2003, engaging universities in ASEAN that join the AUN. Since 2013, it also involved Japan, South Korea and China to join and start the ASEAN+3 Youth Cultutal Forum.
“This event is a forum to encourage the youth in taking part and promoting culture and tradition of each member country,” he said.
Choltis added this was expected to build networking and cooperation among the young generation in ASEAN. It also serves to build dialogue and world peace.
In the event the students will get involved in events such as workshop on culture diplomacy, cultural discussion, Javanese dance learning, gamelan learning, and shadow puppet making. They are also scheduled to visit historical sites in Yogyakarta, such as Keraton Yogyakarta, Prambanan Temples as well as watching the Ramayana Ballet.