Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� September, 2004

Representatives of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) Pay Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Tuesday, September 7, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from the representatives of the youths participating in the "Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP)," at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The SSEAYP is a joint program between Japan and the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Approximately 280 youths from ASEAN countries and approximately 40 youths from Japan will travel for around 50 days on the "Ship for Southeast Asian Youth," visiting Japan and several Southeast Asian nations. The purpose of the program is to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youths through spending time together and engaging in various exchange activities both on board and in the countries they visit. This year marks the 31st voyage of the SSEAYP. Prime Minister Koizumi shook hands with the representatives from each participating country and offered them his words of encouragement by saying, "I trust that you will turn this opportunity into a valuable experience by expanding the circle of exchanges between Japan and the ASEAN countries and make great achievements in various areas in the future. I hope that you will have a meaningful voyage." The ship will leave from Yokohama on September 9 and carry the participating youths on their round of visits to the Southeast Asian nations.