Cambodia's next generation of political leaders will return today from a nine-day trip to meet with counterparts from Japan and the countries of the Mekong region.

The group of 20 young Cambodian political leaders, including three parliamentarians and 17 members of the youth departments of the main political parties, left for Japan on March 3.

"As a young politician I can learn more about the Japanese political system and the economy to strengthen the Japanese-Cambodian and Mekong relationships to benefit the future," NRP youth movement Vice President Pen Sansha told Education and Careers shortly before departure.

The participants visited Tokyo for a panel discussion on opportunities for future cooperation, before splitting into two groups to visit Gifu and Okinawa to study Japan's prefectural council system and visit local industries.

The trip was sponsored by the Japan East Asian Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS), a US$350 million (35 billion yen) youth exchange program.