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Japanese officials call on Benavente
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Posted on Aug 02 2004
A delegation of Japanese government officials, led by assembly member and goodwill ambassador for the CNMI Hamasaki Yoshihiro, yesterday paid a courtesy call on acting governor Diego T. Benavente.
The visit of Yoshihiro, a member of assembly from the Tottori Prefecture, was meant primarily to promote a sister-city relationship between the two places.
“They are just visiting the CNMI. They are excited for opportunities between the two destinations. It’s an informal meeting—some discussion about some areas of cooperation,” Benavente said.
Yoshihiro was accompanied by two other officials including the director of international affairs of Tottori, Toshio Yashimoto, who represented the prefecture’s governor.
Yesterday’s visit was said to be Yoshihiro’s 25th visit to the CNMI.
“He’s been visiting Saipan the past 32 years,” said public information officer Peter Callaghan.
Yoshihiro was named CNMI Honorary Tourism Ambassador in May 2003 for his “unselfish support and commitment to the islands’ tourism industry.”
Yoshihiro is recognized for bringing in various tour groups to the CNMI in the past three decades.
Tottoro is a small city located southwest of Japan.
