Klang hosts delegation from Ningbo

Hamid (right) and Chen sharing a durian during the courtesy visit to Klang.

Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) received a visit by the Ningbo Municipal Committee (NMC) from the province of Zhejiang, China.

NMC Chinese People’s Political Consul­tative Conference chairman Chen Long, who led the eight-member delegation, said the courtesy visit focused on build­ing friendly ties, enhancing mutual under­­standing and exploring oppor­tunities to promote tourism.

Ningbo is located in the northeastern part of Zhejiang province, with an esti­mated population of 9.7mil.

It is a historical coastal city that is evol­ving into a major international cultural and tourism hub.

Chen said the engagement with MBDK was a commitment to establish long-term partnership that would benefit both local councils and contribute to stronger inter­national relations.

“I would like to invite Klang mayor and his delegation to visit Ningbo,” he said.

Klang mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain welcomed the invitation.

“It would be good to make an official visit to Ningbo as we could focus on expanding cooperation in culture and tourism, and learn about smart city initiatives.”

Hamid said Ningbo had success­fully developed its tourist attrac­tions, including the Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay national wetland park, which attracted roughly 500,000 visitors annually.

“We learnt that NMC has blended colonial charm with urban development.

“This is something Klang has to learn – how to leverage our old colonial build­ings with the current development.”

Hamid said MBDK has to study how Ningbo combined high-end modern amenities with well-preserved colonial buildings, positioning it strongly for growth in domestic and international tourism markets.

Klang councillor Christopher Lee said exchange programmes in management and tourism promotion was highly beneficial, as it would foster the sharing of best practices, enhance sustainable development and boosts economic growth through collaborative learning.

“These initiatives will allow Klang to adopt new strategies for improving city services and to develop innovative tourism products.”

Lee said the improved tourism products would increase visitor numbers, which would boost Klang’s economy and support hospitality jobs.

“The exchanges would enable senior management to learn and replicate successful models in sustainable planning and infrastructure development,” he added.