Some 80 overseas students from China, Thailand and Vietnam among other countries, are in Singapore to attend a student-run seminar on youth leadership.

During their five-day stay in Singapore, they will together with about 600 Singapore students, speak to industry leaders and make visits to heritage sites include Fort Canning. Among the speakers is British High Commissioner Mr Antony Phillipson and chief executive of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre Mr Laurence Lien.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Ms Yeoh Chee Yan, who was the guest-of-honour at the ceremony, noted that "inequality is one of the great issues of our time", and advised that having good character and values are the most important traits for one to be successful.

The students, aged between 14 and 18, will also be split into groups of 15 and spend a day coming up with a presentation on a given topic. One of the participants, Geochang Girl's High School student Miss Shin Yu-jeong, 16, said: "I hope to make new friends from other cultures and learn from them."