Wang (fifth left) presenting a souvenir to Chan.
KUCHING: A seven-member team from the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Yantai Municipal People’s Government paid a courtesy call on Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato James Chan at his office in MBKS complex yesterday.
Deputy directors Wang Baoguo and Du Shujun led the team, which was accompanied by the Federation of Kuching and Samarahan Divisions Chinese Association Sarawak president Temenggong Lu Kim Yong and vice president Richard Wee.
Wang expressed their intention to learn more about the economic development as well as the cultural aspect of the city. He also expressed their hope for possible business cooperation between Yantai city and Sarawak in future.
“The relationship between China and Malaysia has always been good. Our trip here is to learn more on economic development here for future cooperation purpose. At the same time, we want to pay a courtesy call on the mayor,” said Wang.
He briefed Chan on Yantai’s economic and tourism development, as well as its status as the most liveable city in China, according to rating by the United Nations.
He also mentioned that Yantai is the second largest industrial city in Shandong, next to Qingdao. With a population of seven million, he also said Yantai is famous throughout China and is home to the country’s largest and oldest grape winery.
In return, Chan expressed his appreciation for their visit. Among other things, Chan told his visitors that MBKS had established friendship city status with five cities in China – Kunming of the Yunnan Province, Zhanjiang of the Guangzhou Province, Zhenjiang of the Jiangsu Province, Chongzhou of the Sizhuan Province and Quanzhou of the Fujian Province. As such, Chan said they were able to have cultural exchanges while promoting tourism in these cities and vice-versa.