KUCHING: Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib attended a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1949-2019) at Imperial Hotel here, yesterday.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari said the relationship between China and Malaysia has been mutually beneficial as can be seen in the growth of trade and investments, and the movement of people between the two country.
“The cordial relationship between China and Malaysia has enabled Sarawak to share in the economic prosperity of China. Sarawak has a small population and the only way ahead for us is to look at the much bigger markets in other countries.
“With a population of more than one billion people, China is of course an enormous market for products from Sarawak. We in Sarawak hope to take advantage of e-commerce to sell our products to China, especially food like durians, pineapples, bananas and ‘empurau’ fish.
“Sarawak will continue to look to China as a friend and a trading partner. We sincerely hope that we will have more cultural exchanges with China, and that more of its people would come here as tourists,” he said.
Abang Johari said this in his speech text read by Local Government and Housing Minister Prof Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The event featured dance performances by students from SJK Chung Hua No 2 and No 3 as well as music performances by China Consulate General in Kuching Cheng Guangzhong and representatives of Chinese citizens in Sarawak, Consulate Zhang Shuyi and Deputy Secretary-General of Asian Dulcimer Association Kenwy Ho as well as Consulate General’s wife Madame Professor Gao Cuilian.
Abdul Taib had the honour of proposing a toast to the 70th anniversary celebration of the founding of China in 1949.
“I hope the cooperation between Sarawak and China will be maintained and progress for the better, forever,” he told the audience.
Among those present at the event were wife of the Head of State, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib; Dr Sim’s wife Datin Associate Professor Enn Ong; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and wife Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar; Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong and wife Datin Seri Mary Manyin; Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin; and Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
