VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, managed to make a diplomatic breakthrough by visiting Russia and meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. With confidence, before meeting Putin, Kim Jong-Un said that the meeting with the Russian President would be a very meaningful dialogue. Whether Jong-Un's optimism came into being when meeting Putin in Vladivostok, can be seen from the statement of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin  who  said  that the visit of the North Korean leader would be able to help the two countries understand how to achieve conflict resolution on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Jong-Un's visit to Russia, although finally meeting Putin in Vladivostok, which is very far from Moscow, was the first made by  the North Korean leader since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union in its time was a big country supporting North Korea in the financial sector. But after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Moscow finally reduced its support to North Korea by implementing a policy of two Koreas.

The North Korean leader certainly hopes that Putin's acceptance and talks will encourage Russia to support its efforts to reduce the pressure of sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies. As is known, Kim Jong-Un's breakthrough meeting with Vladimir Putin, came after no progress was made from the results of North Korean Leader's talks with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi last February.

Whatever the course of the talks, and whatever the outcome of the talks with the Russian President is, at least it can be said, that Kim Jong-Un has been able to demonstrate his ability to conduct diplomacy with the leaders of major countries. In one year, the young North Korean leader met Chinese President Xi Jinping four times, and twice held high-level talks with US President  Donald Trump. Regarding the results, Kim Jong-Un still has to wait, of course, by carrying out further diplomatic maneuvers.

The exhibition ‘The 21st Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair' -Inacraft 2019 is again held in Jakarta. This year's craft trade show is more special because there is a special pavilion of the Kingdom of Morocco. At the exhibition, the products displayed are more varied and more quality; it is followed by 1,700 participants from various regions in the country, and 1,400 booths are available. Inacraft 2019 promotes Betawi's leading arts, culture and crafts, with the theme "Jakarta Enjoyable Multicultural Diversities" accompanying the central theme "From Smart Village to Global Market".

President Joko Widodo in his opening on Wednesday, April 24 said that from year to year, the quality of products exhibited improves. He views the government would like to see Indonesian handicraft products continue to improve such as production capacity, quality, competitiveness, and image, especially for export quality.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry, Airlangga Hartarto said that craft exports are expected to increase by reaching the target of 9 percent through this year's exhibition. He also said that there are a number of aspects needed by the Small-and-Medium Industries. They are design, assistance, access and funding.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Royal Moroccan delegation, Jamila El Moussali said that Moroccan participation in the INACRAFT 2019 event exhibits handicrafts and some Moroccan Islamic cultural objects. In addition, the presence of Morocco in this exhibition is very important to know each other and respect differences. But all those differences are now united in a large and magnificent exhibition in Jakarta.

Definitely, handicraft is the result of human cultivation which is manifested in the form of objects that support or become decoration in human life. Crafts can also symbolize a noble value of a nation's customs. If all crafts are packed well and professionally, they will provide added value to the makers and the state, and even give respect to those who see or appreciate the craft.

It should be noted that environmental issues have to be paid attention by traditional and modern crafters. Because the use of materials from nature and non-environmentally friendly materials is often a reference in the making. Thus, there is a need for regulations related to the use of natural resources and non-organic materials in supporting the Indonesian handicraft industry to be more respected and global.

The Ministry of Tourism is ready to support the plan to organize International Angklung Festival and Darma Reservoir tour as part of  efforts to promote  world-class tourist destinations in Kuningan District, West Java.

"We are committed to helping realize a plan to make tourism destinations including Darma Reservoir a world-class tourist destination," said the Tourism Ministry's Expert Staff for Economics and Regional Tourism, Dr Anang Sutono MM CHE in Kuningan, Sunday.

He said, the angklung festival and the Darma Reservoir Tourism Notes are a commitment of the Ministry of Tourism to provide support because tourism is part of the nation's economy and is fundamental to prosper the community.

"This is the right moment for Kuningan to rise and advance in the tourism sector," he said.

He said, the strategy of developing the tourism industry is  a very important factor, especially to direct the development of human resources  towards turning  tourist destinations in Kuningan District into world class tourism.

Efforts to support the development of world-class tourism, he said, need quality human resources, for which the development of vocational and high school education institutions in the tourism sector is needed.

"Kuningan will become a 'world class tourism', so that it needs human resources of international standard, and one of the embryos is the presence of tourism vocational schools and high schools," he said.

Head of the Java Area Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Tourism Wawan Gunawan added, the activity was the right momentum related to preparations for Ramadan as an attraction to lure tourists.

"This is one of the efforts to integrate art and tourism so that it becomes a unity of harmony," said Wawan.

Wawan said, the Tourism Ministry is building a mutually supportive program that could be realized jointly by the government, the media, business people and academics, so that art attractions could become an attraction for the community.

"If you want to make world-class tourism, the global standard must be adapted to world-class packaging, both musical arrangements, costumes, and so on," he said.

He added, tourism attractions are not only artistic performances, but also the regional culinary sector and community involvement to help increase the level of their welfare.

"If the Minister says, the more culture or art is preserved, the more prosperous the people will be," he said.

A total of 165 children of Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) participated in the selection of the Kuark Science Olympiad (OSK) in Malaysia's Sabah, Saturday (27/4). The Principal of the Indonesian Kota Kinabalu  School of Sabah (SIKK), Istiqlal, on Sunday said that  children of Indonesian migrant workers from various Community Learning Centers (CLC) and SIKK participated in OSK, the selection material specifically for science studies using questions in the XV edition of the kuark comic.

The number of Indonesian migrant workers'  children who passed the semifinal round of 165 participants were selected again to show themselves in the final round.

"The results of the initial selection were 165 participants who are  qualified for the semifinals with material in the field of science," Istiqlal said.

The Principal as well as the manager of the 17th Sandakan CLC Nusantara Batu, Halisa bint Dullah expressed that as many as four of his assisted students are qualified for the semifinals at OSK held at Sabah SIKK.  The four students were Kristina Baranda (Class VI), Maria Cinta Wolor (Class IV), Jelita (Class III) and Beckam (Class II).

He felt proud of the achievements of his assisted students who were able to qualify for the semifinals, even though he first included his students in this OSK.

"I am proud because it is the first time CLC Nusantara has participated in this OSK and managed to qualify for the semifinals," said Mantius, one of his teachers through his written message.

He also thanked SIKK for giving confidence in including his students in the competition. Mantius admitted, the matter of the science study field in the competition was very difficult because it requires high analysis. However, it does not make the Indonesian migrant workers' children who are educated at CLC Nusantara Sandakan.

"Indonesian children are very happy and enthusiastic about participating in this race in OSK even though the problem is difficult," said Mantius. (ant)