Abg Jo, entourage in Beijing for five-day working visit
BEIJING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is in the Chinese capital for a five- day working visit to further explore new technologies in light rail, train and building construction.
Abang Johari will also be covering a few other Chinese cities.
Soon after his arrival in Beijing yesterday, the Chief Minister and members of his entourage proceeded to the China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd where discussion was focussed on the development of an efficient and emission-free public transportation system.
Besides looking at Europe, Sarawak also wished to share in the wide experience and expertise of China in urban transport particularly in the development of hydrogenpowered train, Abang Johari said in a press statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office yesterday.
Last October, he led a delegation to Europe which included Germany where he visited facilities for the manufacture of hydrogen train and hydrogen gas.
He expressed confidence that although hydrogen and electrification are new technologies, Sarawak has tremendous potential in this sector as it has water in abundance as feedstock for production of clean energy, being the worldwide trend towards reduction of carbon footprint and increase of carbon credit.
Fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with only water and heat as clean by-products.
Later, as part of the itinerary in China, the Sarawak delegation dropped by at China Development to gain insight into the banks operation and services.
In the afternoon, the Chief Minister visited the China Railway Construction and Corporation Limited ( CRCC) to test ride the hydrogen-powered tourist train and middle to slow- speed Maglev train test facility at Tangshan in Heibei Province.
Among members of the entourage is Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Husain. SEDC is the implementing agency for the proposed greater Kuching LRT project.