KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor received a courtesy call from the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Malaysia, HE Rafael Daerr, at his office in Menara Kinabalu on Thursday.
During the meeting, Rafael Daerr emphasised that Sabah holds a significant position in EU – Malaysia relations, reflecting the state’s strategic role in the Southeast Asian region and its vast potential in economics, sustainable development, and international relations.
He also expressed the European Union’s commitment to further strengthening ties with Sabah, building on the strong relations and positive engagement established over recent years.
Hajiji reiterated that the State Government remains open to international cooperation that aligns with the state’s development direction and provides long-term benefits to the people, particularly in accelerating Sabah’s development agenda.
Based on the state government’s priorities and direction, Hajiji and Rafael Daerr exchanged views on potential future cooperation between the EU and Sabah, looking to not only continue existing engagements but also explore new, strategic, and high-impact opportunities.
The discussion also touched upon expanding cooperation across various potential sectors, consistent with Sabah’s development vision and the mutual interests of the European Union.
Earlier, Rafael Daerr attended the launch of the Sabah Timber Legality Assurance System Plus (Sabah TLAS+) booklet. This system is the first of its kind in the world to comprehensively align legal aspects, deforestation-free requirements under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and voluntary sustainability principles within a single integrated framework.
Later, Hajiji also received a courtesy call by the Consul of the Republic of Korea in Kota Kinabalu, Mr. Choi Bongkyu.
The visit was Choi’s first meeting with the Chief Minister since his appointment as the Consul of the Republic of Korea in Sabah last November.-pr/BNN
