Foreword by Mr Tadahiko Ishigaki

Dear Friends,

I believe the timing of Vietnam's entry into the HYLI this year was just right, coming immediately after the country's participation in the WTO and a few months after APEC, and at a time when its government is making rapid progress in building a new Vietnam. The 8th HYLI also held particular significance as it was hosted by its newest member country.

Notwithstanding these exciting new developments, the essence of the Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative remained the same - a gathering of the brightest university students across the region, sharing in the rare opportunity to interact with current leaders from the world of politics, business and academia and discuss issues critical to the region.

This year, the HYLI brought together 28 such young leaders from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Under the umbrella theme of Empowering Asia - an Increased Role and a Common Voice as a Responsible Player, the student delegates engaged with speakers from the public, private and academic sectors during the two-day forum, leveraging the speakers' experiences to develop their own thoughts on how their respective countries might cooperate to address the economic and environmental issues that Asia faces today. The week-long programme also included a series of intensive workshop discussions, as well as a meaningful community work activity.

The HYLI delegates have developed a series of insightful recommendations through the course of their workshop discussions, facilitated and guided by the moderators. Their recommendations are included in this report for your reference.

During the initiative, I was continually impressed by the high level of intellectual engagement demonstrated by the 28 student delegates. Having witnessed their enthusiasm for the HYLI, as well as their genuine interest in mutual learning and cooperation, I find it heartening indeed that our young leaders are truly passionate about working together to further regional cooperation and empowerment. The pages in the attached report stand as a testament to our 8th HYLI delegates' dedication to build a better Asia.

In conclusion, I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the 8th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative. Although the 8th HYLI has ended, the progressive ideas discussed and the meaningful relationships forged will be remembered for a long time to come.

Yours sincerely,