The 8^th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) 2007 took place in Hanoi, Vietnam from January 22^nd - 26^th, 2007, uniting twenty-eight of the region’s brightest students from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and – for the first time – Vietnam. As a platform to inspire and nurture Asia’s next generation of future leaders, it provided the student delegates with an opportunity to meet prominent leaders of today and hear their views and recommendations on issues affecting the region.

HYLI 2007 Student Delegates’ Learning Journey

Under the theme "Empowering Asia – an Increased Role and a Common Voice as a Responsible Player," two sub-themes were discussed by the student delegates:

• 1) What China and India’s economic development can bring to Asia
• 2) Challenges for Asia in water management and sustainability

After interacting with regional speakers, the young leaders participated in three days of workshops, discussing various sub-themes. They presented their recommendations at a press conference and engaged with the media. The HYLI young leaders concluded the initiative by sharing their collective recommendations and vision for the two sub-themes.

Economic sub-theme: What China and India’s economic development can bring to Asia
The emergence of China and India as regional economic superpowers presented both challenges and opportunities. To leverage these opportunities, the recommendations include:

• Creation of an updated Asian Free Trade Agreement (AFTA 2), with clearer roles for economic ministers, collective sanctions for countries that violate trade agreements, and the inclusion of key partners like Japan, China, and India.
• Development of a Less Developed Countries Protection Policy, pressuring more advanced economies within AFTA 2 to encourage private business investments in LDCs through FDIs.
• Regional NGOs to collectively apply pressure to monitor governments’ commitment to transparency and anti-corruption efforts.
• Strengthening education across the region.

Environment sub-theme: Challenges for Asia in water management and sustainability
The student delegates recommended an integrated approach that includes:

• National education programs to promote responsible water usage
• Environmental campaigns to address the depletion of catchment areas, such as forest, polluted rivers and aquifers
• Development and sharing of technologies, particularly in recycling and desalination
• Regional coordination to share best practices and prevent trans-border disputes over upstream pollution or damming of shared waterways

Community work

The initiative garnered significant media attention, highlighting the importance of youth leadership for Asia's future. The HYLI event also included a community project with orphaned youths from Mai Dich SOS Children's Village, focusing on water conservation. After ice-breaking activities and a village tour, student delegates and children visited environmental sites, conducting water experiments and observing pollution. They shared their findings through songs and skits, fostering environmental awareness and lasting friendships.