U.S. special envoy for global youth issues to visit Busan this week

The U.S. special envoy for global youth issues will travel to Korea's southeastern city of Busan this week to attend the first-ever trilateral youth leadership program involving people from South Korea, the United States and Japan, the State Department said Tuesday. Abby Finkenauer plans to visit Busan from Wednesday to Friday to join the Trilateral Global Leadership Youth Summit set to take place from Thursday through Saturday in a show of Washington's dedication to fostering youth engagement and regional cooperation, according to the department. The event is co-hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, South Korea's education ministry and its National Institute for International Education as well as Busan Metropolitan City. It is implemented by the East-West Center, a U.S. organization dedicated to strengthening relations among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific and the U.S. "During the Summit, Special Envoy Finkenauer will lead an advocacy and storytelling workshop, guiding participa nts as they discover and express their narratives," the department said. "She will also serve as an advisor for the Summit's pitch competition, providing mentorship and insights to the young leaders as they develop strategies for effective trilateral cooperation," it added. The meeting will bring together 45 delegates representing South Korea, the U.S. and Japan as well as five representatives from the Department of State's youth leadership programs in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Island Countries. "The special envoy's participation reflects the United States' commitment to empowering emerging leaders and fostering collaborative efforts across the Pacific region," the department said. Source: Yonhap News Agency