KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah continues to strengthen its role as a key bridge connecting Sabah and China through cooperation spanning trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, technology and youth development.
Its President Datuk Dexter Lau said the growing relationship between Sabah and China reflects the commitment of both sides to explore broader opportunities for collaboration for mutual benefit.
He said this while delivering his welcoming remarks at the Welcome and Networking Dinner held in conjunction with the visit of a delegation from the Dalian Federation of Industry and Commerce of China to Sabah.
Lau welcomed the delegation and described the return visit as a continuation of the friendship established during MCCC Sabah’s visit to Dalian in May this year.
“We are delighted to welcome the delegation from the Dalian Federation of Industry and Commerce to Sabah. We sincerely appreciate this return visit, which continues the friendship established during our visit to Dalian in May and further strengthens the ties between our two regions,” he said.
According to him, MCCC Sabah has always been committed to promoting Malaysia-China cooperation not only in trade, investment and business, but also in government relations, education, culture, tourism, technology and youth development.
He said the chamber aspires to be the strongest bridge connecting Sabah and China through a broad and effective network of partnerships.
“Over the years, we have maintained close ties with the Chinese Government, provincial and municipal governments in China, Federations of Industry and Commerce, business associations, enterprises, Malaysian government agencies, Sabah state institutions and major chambers of commerce,” he said.
He added that these continuous efforts have enabled MCCC Sabah to grow into an important platform for Malaysia-China cooperation, particularly in facilitating business and investment linkages.
“We are proud to be the first point of contact for Chinese enterprises exploring investment opportunities in Sabah and East Malaysia, while striving to be the most trusted partner for Sabah businesses seeking to enter the Chinese market,” he said.
The event was attended by representatives from various organisations and business chambers throughout Sabah, including the Malaysia-China Friendship Association Sabah, Sabah China Chamber of Commerce, SME Association of Sabah, Penampang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association (SWEPA), Persatuan Usahawan Maju Malaysia (PUMM) Sabah and the Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
Also present were representatives from the Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce, Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce (SBCC), The United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu, The Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia, China Graduates Alumni Association of Sabah and the China Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia (Sabah Chapter).
The gathering also brought together academics from Xiamen University, representatives from government agencies, government-linked companies (GLCs) and leaders from various sectors to welcome the Dalian delegation.
Lau said the presence of so many distinguished guests was not only a gesture of hospitality towards the visitors from Dalian, but also reflected the importance attached to Malaysia-China cooperation by stakeholders across different sectors.
“It also demonstrates MCCC Sabah’s strength in uniting stakeholders, mobilising resources and providing a platform for meaningful collaboration,” he said.
He stressed that mutual trust is the foundation of every successful partnership and that MCCC Sabah would continue to play its role as a bridge between the business communities of both countries.
“We firmly believe that the foundation of successful cooperation is mutual trust. Moving forward, MCCC Sabah will continue to serve as a bridge, creating more opportunities for collaboration and business growth between our two regions and enterprises,” he said.
He expressed hope that the visit by the Dalian Federation of Industry and Commerce delegation would open up more strategic collaboration opportunities and further strengthen the long-standing friendship between the two sides.
“May the friendship between Dalian and Sabah continue to deepen, may our cooperation flourish, and may the enduring friendship between Malaysia and China reach even greater heights in the years ahead,” he said.
