KUCHING: The Sarawak-China Friendship Association (SFCA) has proposed that the Sarawak government establish trade and tourism promotion centres in major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to strengthen economic and cultural ties.
SFCA president Datuk Wee Kok Tiong said these centres could enhance Sarawak’s visibility and showcase its unique attractions to Chinese businesses and tourists and facilitating investment and tourism.
“These centres would provide market information, policy consulting, and investment guidance for Sarawak’s enterprises, enabling them to integrate more seamlessly into the Chinese market and serve as crucial gateways for Chinese investment,” he said.
He said this at a gala dinner here on Friday (Nov 8), celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
Wee noted that such centres could also serve as platforms for cultural and educational exchanges, where exhibitions and exchange programmes would allow more Chinese people to experience the distinctive appeal of Sarawak, drawing tourists and students to the state and fostering closer connections.
He added that China’s expertise in clean energy would accelerate Borneo’s green transformation by reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.
“Through collaboration with China, we can introduce advanced technology to develop green projects in solar, hydropower, low-carbon technologies, and carbon credits, realising the sustainable use of resources.
“Borneo and China can also enhance cooperation in wind energy and other renewable energy fields, developing coastal renewable energy projects, promoting low-carbon economic transformation,” he added.
Wee also said Borneo’s coastal areas, rich in resources like oil and gas, would benefit from China’s advanced exploration and extraction technologies.
Meanwhile, acting Consul General of China in Kuching Song Changhong noted that China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years and a major investment source.
From January to August this year, bilateral trade volume reached USD135.23 billion, an 11 per cent increase year-on-year, with Chinese investment in Malaysia totaling USD1.48 billion, up by 13.2 per cent, she said.
She added that visa-free policies have encouraged people-to-people exchanges, with 2.28 million Chinese visitors travelling to Malaysia in the first eight months of this year.
Currently, over 47,000 Chinese students are studying in Malaysia.
