Ms. Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the Department of State, spoke with students at the University of the City of Manila on July 7 during her visit to the Philippines to reflect on the many different U.S. education and exchange programs and to look for new ways to expand and increase participation in these programs. She commented on the amazing friendship and partnership that already exists between our two nations. Ameri, who is originally from Iran, spoke from her personal experience about the importance of student exchanges: “I understand first-hand the value of exchanges and the value of coming up-close and personal to a different culture; being accepted in an American university allowed me to understand Americans and their openness and their tolerance and their graciousness first-hand.” She also noted the need to continue to work together on global and national problems, saying “we believe that educational exchanges help us resolve these issues in partnership.”