KUCHING: In an actions-packed weeklong visit to the People’s Republic of China beginning March 19, 2017, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari has successfully enhanced the State’s ties with the world’s No.2 economic power house and further paved the way for Sarawak to tap into China’s huge travellers’ market and gigantic students’ pool, among others.
It was Abang Jo’s first official visit to a foreign country since becoming the 6th Sarawak Chief Minister on January 13, 2017.
The working tour was significant and the Chief Minister’s entourage was impressive. Accompanying him were his wife Datin Amar Dato Hajah Juma’ani, Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Local Government Assistant Minister Datu Penguang Manggil, SEDC Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Aziz Hussain, Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) Mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahab, UNIMAS Board of Directors Chairman Datu Dr. Hatta Solhi, PUSTAKA Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Hamid Bugo, other senior government department and agency officials.
The tightly-scheduled working trip took the Chief Minister and his delegates to Beijing, capital of China, Kunming City of Yunnan Province, Guangzhou and Hong Kong where Abang Jo and his entourage visited the Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority (URA) for a briefing on the island’s urban renewal programme.
Among the several history-making Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed was for the establishment of the first Confucius Institute for Chinese Language Studies in East Malaysia between UNIMAS and Yunnan University in Kunming, a top China university established in 1932.
Also inked was an MoU for the Establishment of Friendship-Province/State Relationship between Sarawak and Yunnan Province.
In one of his brief addresses during the visit, Abang Jo emphasized on the long and warm ties between Sarawak and Yunnan which dated back to the 15th century when the great Chinese admiral Cheng Ho was exploring South East Asia. A road in Kuching indeed has been named after the famous sailor.
Pointing out that a friendship park had been built in Kuching to signify the friendship entrenched since the time of Cheng Ho, the Chief Minister said he was certain both sides could further foster the friendship based on ‘our cultural exchange and social visits’.
He also expressed his hope that both sides could explore other areas of co-operation, especially in science and technology.
