Taipei City Construction Management Office

To expand international exchanges and city diplomacy among Taipei youth, the Taipei City Department for Youth, together with five outstanding youth representatives under the age of 18, was invited to participate in the "2025 Teens Square Tokyo Project" international forum held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Liaison Office for Child-Oriented Policies from August 20 to 22, 2015. The forum brought together young people from Surabaya, Indonesia; Dublin, Ireland; Brussels, Belgium; Tokyo, and Taipei City to explore the vision and practice of "child-friendly cities" through cross-border dialogue and collaboration (Note: According to Japan's definition of "children", it refers to young people under the age of 18). 

The Department for Youth pointed out that the participation in this event was due to the previous visits of then-Commissioner Wei Yin to Tokyo and his attendance at relevant forums during these visits. Wherefore, the organizer invited the Department for Youth to recommend five Taipei City youth representatives to participate. During the city exchange session, the Taipei City youth representatives introduced the operating mechanism of the "Taipei City Youth Affairs Advisory Committee", explaining how the platform encourages youth participation in municipal affairs, implements the concept of public participation and urban co-creation, and emphasized that Taipei is committed to empowering youth to speak out, so that young people can actively participate in the future development of the city. The youth representatives said that children and teenagers not only need to be protected, but should also be regarded as participants in urban governance. Only by truly being included in decision-making can Taipei become a city that is both inclusive and resilient. They hope to receive more attention in the future and expressed their gratitude to the Department for Youth, emphasizing that it is a great honor to bring the voices of Taipei's children and teenagers to the international stage. 

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike also met with youth representatives from various cities during the event. During the meeting, Taipei youth representatives expressed their willingness to collaborate with other cities to create a shared future, emphasizing that young people should transcend national boundaries to address global challenges jointly. Taipei and Tokyo share the qualities of resilience and innovation, and look forward to deepening their bilateral partnership and jointly fostering a more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable urban vision. Furthermore, the forum organizers invited Mikiko Ōtani, former Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and renowned Japanese human rights lawyer, to provide expert advice on children's human rights, highlighting the forum's emphasis on and diverse perspectives on the topic of "child-friendly cities." 

The Department for Youth pointed out that Taipei City youth representatives, under the theme of "Building a Youth-Friendly City with Diversity and Resilience," proposed an urban development blueprint centered on "inclusion, sustainability, and innovation." The content covered specific practical cases such as digital technology applications, friendly public space design, and youth public participation mechanisms. During the three-day trip, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government also arranged for them to visit local youth activity centers, conduct cultural exchanges with Japanese students, experience the use of relevant facilities by local youth, and establish deep international friendships through on-site activities. 

Department for Youth Commissioner Yi-hsi Chou stated that this is the first time since its establishment that the Department for Youth has taken young people on an international exchange program. In the future, they look forward to bringing more Taipei youth to the world, allowing them to serve as a bridge between the city and the world. Through their participation in the Tokyo International Forum, Taipei youth not only broadened their global perspectives but also successfully brought Taiwan's youth policies and innovative practices to the international stage, demonstrating Taipei's strength and vision as a youth-friendly and internationally connected city.