Sabah, Jiangxi province forge closer ties
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau is confident that Sabah and Jiangxi province in China would be able to forge closer ties in terms of investment, tourism, educational and cultural exchanges in years to come.
Madius, who is also the Minister of Trade and Industries, said he was impressed by the fast pace of development in Jiangxi during the State Government's visit to the province last April, led by the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal.
He stated that in his speech, which was delivered by his Assistant Minister Ben Chong, at the China Ganzhou Longnan County Trade Investment and Tourism Promotion Convention here on Thursday.
Ganzhou is a city in southern Jiangxi province, with a population of 10 million, 97 percent of whom are Hakka people.
Madius thanked the China visitors for reciprocating the State Government's visit to Jiangxi, adding that this was a good sign of a sound footing for better ties ahead.
“Sabah is hopeful that we can achieve mutual benefits in the years to come.”
He said Sabah had a lot to offer to foreign investors and tourists.
He also hoped to see more educational and cultural exchanges.
According to media reports, Madius said Chinese tourists spent US128 billion, approximately RM525 billion, overseas, mainly at the Belt and Road countries, including Malaysia.
“It goes without saying that Sabah can be a major beneficiary of Chinese tourists.”
Meanwhile, Madius said the convention dinner would help strengthen the relationship between the people of Ganzhou Longnan and Sabah in the context of the friendship and cooperation between Malaysia and China.
On behalf of the State Government, he thanked the delegates for contributing their effort in strengthening the State's economy and promoting two-way tourism between both places.
He also congratulated the Sabah Maritime Silk Road Research and Advancement Society and the Malaysia Maritime Silk Road Research Society for having the foresight to be the first society to promote the Maritime Silk Road to be registered by the Malaysian government in February 2015.
He thanked the Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) and the Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) for their work in promoting Sabah as an attractive investment destination along the Belt and Road region as well.
On the other hand, Acting Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Zhang He, said the potential was huge to expand the cooperation between China and Sabah.
He said the collaboration between China and Sabah in various sectors had grown significantly with the promotion of the Belt and Road initiative in recent years.
“China tourist arrivals to Sabah in the first seven months this year have increased by 4.9 percent to 376,000 visitors compared to the same period last year, whereas Sabah visitors to China have also increased yearly.”
He said Madius had accompanied Shafie on a working visit to Jiangxi and Guangdong in April this year where RM20 billion worth of Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) were signed, further advancing the trade cooperation between China and Sabah.
Zhang also commended the State Government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) including the Sabah Maritime Silk Road Research and Advancement Society for their effort in promoting cooperation between China and Sabah.
He said the consulate would continue to support efforts in enhancing China-Sabah cooperation.
At the event, Satta president Datuk Seri Winston Liaw also proposed to have direct flight between Ganzhou and Kota Kinabalu, which he believed could stimulate tourism and economic growth.
He said the availability of direct flight could lure Chinese investors to invest in the development of tourism infrastructure, basic infrastructure, hotel and theme parks in Sabah.
The convention included a signing ceremony for strategic collaboration framework between the Sabah Maritime Silk Route Research and Advancement Society, SUCCC, Satta and Malaysia Maritime Silk Route Research Society with their China partners.
Also present were SUCCC president Tan Sri Andrew Liew Sui Fatt, Malaysia Maritime Silk Route Research Society president Datuk Wilson Yong, Sabah Maritime Silk Route Research and Advancement Society president Datuk Philip Yong Chiew Lip, Ganzhou Hakka Association chairman Lai Lian Ming, Longnan Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) chairman cum Longnan Hakka Association chairman Wang Hui Jun, Deputy Magistrate of The People's Government of Longnan County Wang Yu Jun and Global Union for Tsung Tsin and Hakka Association (Guttha) acting chief executive Tsang Kwun To.