KOTA KINABALU, Jan 7 — The American state of Oregon has chosen to form a collaborative partnership with Sabah due to the many similarities between their largest cities, said United States ambassador to Malaysia, Joseph Yun.

He said human qualities like the warmth and welcoming nature of the people in Kota Kinabalu (KK) and Portland (Oregon’s main city) and Sabah’s progressiveness that matched that of Oregon were some of the similarities.

“The US delegates with us today are committed to look beyond state and national borders to consider what it means to have a counterpart so far away in dealing with matters such as land issues and forest and wildlife conservation,” he said during a luncheon hosted by Kota Kinabalu City Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir.

The 15-member delegation included Oregon’s Metro Council president Tom Hughes, Portland-KK Sister City Association (P-KK SCA) president Suzanne Hashim and senior representatives from Portland State University, Oregon State University, Portland Audubon, Forest Park Conservancy and Providence Medical Group.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing friendly ties between KK and Portland were signed during a visit by state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and Abidin to Portland on September 29, 2014.

The MoU eyes cooperation in environmental and animal conservation, sustainable economic development, education and tourism.

The US envoy and Portland delegates are in Sabah as a follow-up trip by P-KK SCA and are visiting KK, Sandakan and Danau-Girang Field Centre from Jan 6 to 13.

Yun said during the delegation’s visit to the Centre for Renewable and Appropriate Technology (CREATe) at Nampasan village in Penampang here today, he met many non-governmental organisations which were concerned about local issues.

“We heard their talks about climate change, water sheds, water usage and technology. These are the same issues many of our delegates live with day-to-day,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abidin in his welcoming address hoped the Portland delegation would consider investment opportunities such as in education and tourism as well as establish business in KK in future. — Bernama