Young Cambodian Catholics met a high government official the day before they departed for the 2008 World Youth Day (WYD) celebration in Sydney, Australia.

On July 2 about 30 youths and father Leo Ochoa, leader of the Cambodia WYD delegation, visited Mr. Uch Borith, a secretary of state under the foreign affairs minister, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Father Ochoa told Mr. Borith the delegates to the July 15-20 International WYD celebration are representing millions of Cambodian Youths, the youth delegates, the Salesian priest added, will be “ambassadors of peace” who will forge cooperative links with other youths from around the world. The missioner added that the delegation wanted to visit Mr. Borith to seek his advice and words of wisdom from his experience in promoting peace and international cooperation.

The official advised the youth delegates to understand other cultures, build good relations and promote Khmer culture at the WYD events. He also suggested they invite youths of other countries to come to Cambodia for exchange programs to promote peace and intercultural understanding. He pointed out that Cambodians of different religions live in peace as brothers and sister, and said the country has never had interreligious conflict.

Website: www.sjygkh.tk

Email: sjygkh@gmail.com