China to open consul office in Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU: China plans to open a consulate office here in three months time.

A diplomatic team headed by China's deputy consul-general for Sabah, Sun Xiaowu, has been in the state capital for two weeks scouting for possible locations for their office.

“We hope to get the consulate operating within the first quarter of the year,” he told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman here on Friday.

Present was the China consul-general for Sarawak, Liu Chan, who had served in the similar capacity for Sabah until his government’s decision to set up a consulate here.

Liu said the setting up of the consulate in Sabah came after Musa had voiced the state government’s request for such a facility apart from seeing China banks opening their branches here.

“That second request could become a reality. Once there is a consulate, business will follow,” he added.

He said the opening of the consulate would also encourage more China nationals to visit Sabah. Some 300,000 Chinese visit Sabah annually.

“We anticipate that number to grow substantially in the coming years,” Liu said.

He said the opening of the consulate would also pave the way for more China companies to invest in Sabah particularly in the agriculture and natural resource sectors.

He said Sabah's strategic location in the region was ideal for travel and business.

"The people here are very warm and hospitable. You have a very good social and economic environment. I am confident more Chinese will come," he said.