Taib leads the toast. Also seen are (from right) Cheng, Dr Sim, Raghad and Gao (left). — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Good bilateral ties between China and Malaysia have allowed Sarawak to share in China’s economic prosperity.
This has enabled Sarawak to sell its products to the country which has an enormous market for the products, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said.
“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 be able to take advantage of e-commerce to sell our products to China, especially food items like durian, pineapple, bananas and Empurau fish,” Abang Johari said.
His text-of-speech was read by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian at a dinner on Monday night, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
Abang Johari added that Sarawak’s collaboration with China was not solely in the areas of economic and trade, which showed an increase, but also in tourism, culture and education.
Meanwhile, Consul-General of China in Kuching Cheng Guangzhong, who attended the dinner with his wife Gao Cuilian, said 2019 also marked the 25th year of the establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Kuching.
“As the first Consulate Office of China in Malaysia, the past 25 years have witnessed high-level exchanges with fruitful cooperation in trade, agriculture, manufacturing, digital economy, tourism, culture, energy and so on. So far this year, China’s investment and intended investment in Sarawak has reached US$8 billion.
“The progress of China-Malaysia relations could not have been possible without the dedication of the Chinese community in Sarawak. I believe that with our joint efforts, the mutual beneficial cooperation between China and Sarawak will rise to a new level,” Cheng said in his speech.
The guest-of-honour for the anniversary dinner were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib.