KOTA KINABALU: The Chinese Consulate here has expressed support for revitalising sister-city partnerships to strengthen ties with Sabah.
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Dr Zhu Xinglong, said cooperation can bring mutual benefits.
He said this during a meeting on Wednesday (Mar 25) with the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Joniston, who oversees Kota Kinabalu City Hall and chairs the Sabah Tourism Board, said the city hall has friendship city agreements with Heyuan (2010), Jiangmen (2012), Wuhan (2015), and Hangzhou and Xi’an (2019).
China consistently accounts for the largest number of international visitors to Sabah.
In January this year, Sabah recorded 54,102 visitor arrivals from China. Last year, the state welcomed 657,528 Chinese visitors.
Sabah is currently linked to eight cities in China via direct flights.
During the meeting, Zhu also proposed that Sabah set up a tourism and cultural office in Beijing.
