Sumatera Selatan (ANTARA) - South Sumatera Deputy Governor Mawardi Yahya called on local young people joining the first pre-summit of Y20, held in Palembang from March 19 to 20, to echo their critical thoughts actively as the event offered an opportunity for them to exchange ideas with their counterparts from national and international delegations.

They could discuss solutions to social, health, environmental, economic, and technological issues he said at the first pre-summit of Y20 in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra Province, on Sunday.

"The critical thoughts will be channeled at the peak of Y20 summit. We aim to provide progress for the region, the country, and even for members of generation, including young people who will become the successors of this nation," he said.

He later informed that the Provincial Government really appreciates the Indonesian Youth Diplomacy (IYD) as the official organizer of the 2022 Y20 Indonesia Summit for selecting Palembang as one of the hosts of this first pre-summit of the Y20.

"We are grateful for this opportunity. We hope that this activity in the future can stimulate young people in South Sumatera to broaden their horizons and establish networks with their global partners so that they can be more advanced," he added.

Related news: Minister Amali affirms his support for youth in Indonesia's Y20 Summit

Meanwhile, the first pre-summit of the Y20 in Palembang was attended by 100 selected participants coming from various regions in the province.

The participants actively get involved in discussing four priority issues -- youth employment, digital transformation, sustainable and liveable planet, as well as diversity and inclusion -- along with 16 delegates from the G20 members.

Among them are Edu Arechaga (Observer – Spain), Rodolfo Ivan Garcia Gonzalez (Embassy, Mexico), Cosimo Thawley (Embassy, Australia), Faransina (IPLC – Observer), Gustav Dahlin (Embassy – Sweden), Arezo K (Refugee / UNHCR Observer), Dinesh NV (ASEAN Finalist), Trinh Thuy Ngan (ASEAN Finalist), Jorge Martin Quaranta (Embassy, Argentina), Koichi (Embassy, Japan), Avantika (Embassy, India), Monika Firlus (Embassy, Poland), Michael Scott VG (US Youth), Hugo (UK Embassy) Burak Avci (Embassy, Turkey), and Tom Miller (US Youth).

The opening session of this first pre-summit of the Y20 in Palembang which was held on March 19 was attended by Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali, Minister of Manpower Ida Fauzia, and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi through virtual broadcasts.

Related news: Youth in Y20 expected to bolster inclusive economic recovery: Hartarto

Translator: Muhammad Riezko B E, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022