KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said Sabah is well positioned to serve as an important bridge for deeper Malaysia-China cooperation.
He said Sabah’s relationship with China is an important part of a broader Malaysia China partnership and while formal diplomatic relations are relatively recent, the ties between Sabah and China extend much further into history.
“For centuries, maritime trade routes connected the coastal communities of Borneo with southern China and other parts of Southeast Asia.
“These connections enabled the exchange of goods, ideas, cultures, and people, creating bonds that remain meaningful to this day,” he said at the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China reception at the Magellan Sutera Resort here tonight.
Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam delivered the Chief Minister’s speech.
He said Sabah offers a strong platform for engagement between Chinese enterprises, institutions and communities with its strategic geographical location, economic potential, rich natural resources and long-standing people-to-people links.
“Trade and investment remain central pillars of Sabah-China relations. China is one of Sabah’s most important trading partners, with cooperation encompassing commodities, agriculture, fisheries, manufactured products, tourism and services.
“Chinese companies operating in Sabah have contributed to economic development, employment creation, infrastructure development and stronger business linkages,” he said.
At the same time, he said Sabah offers significant opportunities for Chinese investment in tourism, renewable energy, agriculture, fisheries, logistics, digital services and the blue economy.
He also said there is ample opportunity for Sabah and China to share expertise in agriculture, marine conservation, clean energy, smart farming and aquaculture, among others.
“By aligning Sabah’s economic strengths with China’s expertise, investment capacity, and technological capabilities, we can create meaningful and mutually beneficial outcomes,” he said.
Another important area of cooperation is tourism, which Sabah is confident could be further boosted through stronger air connectivity, expanded digital marketing, and the development of eco-tourism, cultural tourism as well as adventure tourism products, he said.
The Chief Minister said that beyond economic cooperation, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges, there is considerable potential to expand cooperation through university partnerships, student exchanges, language programmes, research cooperation, scholarships, cultural performances, youth activities, and cooperation in science and technology.
“These exchanges are particularly important because they deepen mutual understanding and foster friendships among future generations.
“They remind us that the true strength of bilateral relations lies not only in trade and investment, but also in the connections between our peoples,” he said.
Looking forward, Hajiji said Sabah remained committed to supporting Malaysia’s strong and constructive relationship with China, while advancing the state’s own priorities under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 development agenda.
“Sabah is ready and keen to serve as an important platform for Malaysia-China cooperation,” he said.-pr/BNN
