Dr Joachim (fifth right), Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu Dr Zhu Xinglong (fifth left) and other guests in a cake cutting ceremony.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government remains committed to fostering mutually beneficial cooperation with China, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“We are committed to aligning development strategies, identifying new opportunities and expanding into new areas of cooperation.
“We stand ready to work closely with the Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu and all stakeholders in Sabah to further strengthen our long-standing friendship and contribute to building a Sabah–China and Malaysia–China community with a shared future,” he said at the 76th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, held at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here tonight. His speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister II cum Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
The Chief Minister said Sabah, with its rich cultural diversity and social harmony, greatly values its enduring friendship with the Chinese people.
“We are ready to play our unique role in advancing Malaysia–China relations and in contributing to the building of a China–Malaysia community with a shared future,” he added.
Hajiji noted that Malaysia–China relations have reached unprecedented heights.
Citing recent developments, Hajiji said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia in April and his recent meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit reflected the strength of the partnership.
“Our Prime Minister reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to deepening cooperation with China, bringing tangible benefits to both countries. These close, high-level engagements have also given new momentum to Sabah–China relations and cooperation,” he said.
Hajiji also highlighted that China is now the largest trading partner of both Malaysia and Sabah.
“Sabah–China cooperation spans a wide range of sectors, reflecting not only economic focus areas but also strong people-to-people ties. Our collaboration extends across agriculture and fisheries, renewable energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, trade, manufacturing, tourism, education and cultural exchange — delivering concrete benefits on both sides.
“Let us deepen this cooperation so that together we can contribute to a stronger Malaysia–China partnership and a stable, prosperous region. Together, we build trust, share growth and shape the future,” he said.
