Vinycia Seman, the mayor’s executive secretary, said Flores’ travel has some economic benefits.
The mayor is traveling with Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan and the chairman of the Senate Committees on Health and Welfare as well as Resources, Economic Development and Programs.
They left on Feb. 5 and are expected to return on Feb. 12, Seman said.
She said the two will be meeting with the local officials of Kyoto and Nantan.
The meetings, she said, are not only aimed at strengthening the cultural relationship between Saipan and the Japan’s major cities but will also explore possible business endeavors.
The cultural exchange program between Saipan and Sanpoen has been going on for 33 years now, Seman said.
Students from Japan who participated in the program have returned to the island after developing close relationships with the local families that hosted them here.
This year, the 10 students sent to Japan are from Hopwood Junior High School, Chacha Oceanview Junior High School and Marianas High School.
This July, the Sanpoen group will visit Saipan and the families of the 10 local students will be the home-stay sponsors of the Japanese students, Seman said.
The 12-day travel of the mayor and his group will include visits at the planetarium in Ohtsu City, a potato factory, the Kinkaku-ji Temple, the Kyoto animal zoo, and the Enryaku-ji Temple.
