Ship for the Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP), Fuji Maru

The Ship for the Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP), Fuji Maru, arrived at Muara Port yesterday as part of a 53-day trip, carrying with it 400 youths from Japan and Asean countries including Brunei.

The Fuji Maru, which will be in Brunei between November 16 and 19, saw participants disembark and go on institutional visits to various locations around the Sultanate including DST headquarters, the Department of Environment, Park and Recreation (JASTRe), the Royal Regalia Building, TelBru, Radio Television Brunei and other institutions.

The SSEAYP is a programme based on the respective Joint Statement issued in January 1974 between Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei joined the programme in 1985, with Vietnam joining in 1996, followed by Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1998. Cambodia was the most recent Asean country to join in 2000.

The purpose of the programme is to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of Japan and Southeast Asian countries, to broaden their perspective on the world, to strengthen their motivation and abilities in international cooperation by participating in discussions, introduction and familiarisation of each country and various exchange activities that take place both onboard the Fuji Maru and in the countries visited.