"I heard that Jeju wants cooperation in agriculture. Of course, we will welcome it because there are many fertile lands in North Sulawesi," Megawati , who is the chair of the National Research and Innovation Agency’s (BRIN’s) steering committee, said here on Thursday.
During a meeting with Jeju Governor Oh Young-hun in Jeju, South Korea, on Thursday, she discussed tradable commodities and cooperation potentials that can be improved.
According to her, North Sulawesi has a great potential to cooperate with Jeju because geographically, it directly faces the Indian Ocean.
North Sulawesi, which has coconuts, and Jeju, which has fish and oranges, can trade with each other, she suggested.
North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey, who accompanied Megawati i, encouraged the establishment of sister city cooperation between the two provinces.
Meanwhile, Governor Oh revealed that his administration has been exploring the possibility of a sister city agreement with North Sulawesi.
"Actually, we have a sister city agreement with Bali. If Mr. Dondokambey wishes, (Jeju) can be a sister city of North Sulawesi. If we can establish a sea route between Jeju and North Sulawesi, we will definitely be very happy," Oh said.
He also expressed support for the signing of a Letter of Intent between Jeju Air and North Sulawesi for the operation of direct flights from Jeju to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi.
In addition to encouraging Jeju's cooperation with North Sulawesi, Megawati , who attended the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity in South Korea, highlighted the peace talks.
Since the presidency of Kim Dae-jung (1998–2003), she claimed she has been asked to serve as the special envoy for peace talks.
"At last night's dinner, I happened to meet Mr. Ban Ki-moon (the former secretary-general of the United Nations), I briefly raised how this issue (between North Korea and South Korea) is a global concern," Megawati said.
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Translator: Melalusa K, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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