The Ministry of Education’s Youth Development Administration held the two-day 2026 Global Youth Trends Forum on January 3 and January 4 in Taipei City. Approximately 200 young people and officials from 21 countries took part in what was called the Powering Sustainability: Youth x Green Collar x Action forum. Its focus was on green career planning, and cross-disciplinary cooperation to achieve a global impact, and exploring ways for young people around the world to help bring about net-zero carbon emissions.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Liu Kuo-Wei 劉國偉, said in his opening remarks that the young generation is a driving force which can initiate change and shape the future as the world tackles challenges such as climate change, industry transition, and social inequality.
Taiwan’s government has supported youth participation in public affairs and global issues for a long time, and he said that the forum provides a platform for Taiwan’s young people to engage with their global counterparts, cultivate cross-disciplinary skills, and advocate and help bring about sustainable development and a green economy.
Among the officials who took part in the forum was Paraguay’s youngest cabinet member, Salma Agüero Caballero, Minister of the National Youth Secretariat of Paraguay. She visited Taiwan from January 2 to 4 to take part following a formal invitation issued by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Paraguay.
More than 50% of Paraguay’s population is under the age of 30, and the country is often described as currently in a "demographic dividend" phase. The Minister praised Taiwan for providing essential education and training that empowers young people to exert greater influence on policies.
In addition to participating in the forum, Minister Agüero spent time at Liberty Square to film a video to promote the Taiwan Scholarship program to encourage young Paraguayans to study for degrees at universities in Taiwan.
She expressed her enthusiasm about promoting these opportunities to gain academic qualifications, saying that the knowledge that Paraguayan students gain in Taiwan will empower them. After they finish their studies and return home, they will be able to make significant contributions to Paraguayan society.
In the video, Minister Agüero tells them: "Taiwan offers generous scholarships for students to pursue their dreams. If you want to experience this beautiful culture and change your future, you cannot miss this opportunity." She shared the video on her personal Instagram, where it attracted more than 60,000 views in the first 24 hours—an excellent beginning.
