Dr Oh Ei Sun (front second left) of Ma-Zhong Sabah and Zhao Hui (front right) of Jiangxi People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries signing friendship pact, witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (fifth left), Governor Yi Lianhong (fifth right) and Consul-General of Malaysia, Beh Ching Chye (first left).
NANCHANG (JIANGXI): A memorandum to establish cooperation between friendship associations in Sabah and China’s Jiangxi province was signed on Saturday, marking the first non-governmental agreement signed during Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s working visit to China.
Ma-Zhong Friendship Association Sabah and Jiangxi People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries inked the document, represented by their respective presidents Dr Oh Ei Sun and Ms Shi Hui.
Dr Oh said that to date, this was the eighth memorandum Ma-Zhong Sabah had signed with friendship associations from China, including with counterparts from Fujian and Guangdong.
Dr Oh is confident that the pact will pave way towards the setting up of a long-term cooperative mechanism and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between both parties.
The signing was witnessed by Shafie, who is his first working visit to China after becoming Chief Minister last year, and also Yi Lianhong, Governor of Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government.
Dr Oh is especially impressed by the Chief Minister’s vision and tenacity to improve the socioeconomic wellbeing of Sabah by personally participating in attracting foreign direct investment from China.
He is also thankful for the opportunity accorded to Ma-Zhong Sabah to assist in arranging for the Chief Minister’s China working trip.
Dr Oh pledged that Ma-Zhong Sabah will continue to work closely with the Sabah State Government and relevant counterparts in China in bringing closer the people-to-people bonds between both places.
Under the agreement, both parties have agreed to strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Sabah, Malaysia and Jiangxi, China, and promote cordial exchanges between the local governments of both sides.
They also agreed on sharing information related to investment, trade and tourism cooperation opportunities, including boosting bilateral enterprises under these sectors.
The memorandum also aimed to organise culture, arts and education delegation visits between both sides and accelerate cultural and educational exchanges.
It will also see them assisting each other in providing necessary facilitation and assistance, such as arranging venues during visits and event organisations, based on the principle of reciprocity.
Both sides are also expected to hold periodic consultations on issues related to cooperative efforts between them.