Sabah-China Chamber of Commerce strengthens ties with new Chinese Consul General in Kota Kinabalu
KOTA KINABALU (July 8): Sabah-China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) president Datuk Frankie Liew on Tuesday led a delegation of key committee members to pay a courtesy visit to Zhu Xinglong, the newly appointed Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu.
The visit aimed to extend a warm welcome and sincere congratulations, while engaging in in-depth discussions to further strengthen Sabah-China cooperation.
During the visit, Liew conveyed heartfelt greetings and gratitude on behalf of all the committee members and SCCC members, thanking the Chinese Consulate for its longstanding support of their work.
He emphasized that the SCCC and the Chinese Consulate have always maintained a close and positive relationship. Under the support and guidance of successive Consuls General, both parties have jointly promoted many initiatives to enhance bilateral cooperation, deepen economic and trade ties, foster investment exchanges, and strengthen cultural engagement between Sabah and China.
Looking ahead, Liew expressed confidence that under the leadership of Consul General Zhu, the Sabah-China Chamber of Commerce will continue to deepen its collaboration with the Consulate. SCCC will actively support the Consulate's work and promote exchanges and cooperation between Sabah and various provinces and cities in China in areas such as business, culture and education.
He also emphasized that the Chamber will continue to play its role as a bridge and link, assisting both the Federal and State Governments in attracting investments to stimulate local economic growth. At the same time, the Chamber will work on enhancing the quality and global competitiveness of local entrepreneurs — including empowering women and youth entrepreneurs — to help them shine on the international stage.
During the meeting, Liew also introduced the mission and functions of the Chamber. Since its founding in 2019, the SCCC has adhered to its mission of 'promoting exchange, advancing development, and serving members,' and has worked to strengthen Sabah-China cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, industry and commerce.
He noted that the Chamber actively provides members with policy updates, investment guidelines, trade resources, and a wide range of platforms for engagement, including expos, economic forums, thematic lectures and training programs — effectively building a practical and efficient cooperation bridge between Sabah and China.
'In recent years, the SCCC has actively organized and participated in many key events, including last year's Sabah-China Expo, co-organized with the Sabah State Government to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. We have also maintained regular engagement with chambers and enterprises across China and established liaison offices in multiple cities to expand connections and cooperation,' said Liew.
Zhu welcomed the SCCC delegation and gave high praise for SCCC's contributions in promoting Sabah-China exchanges and collaboration.
The Consulate General assured that he will continue to support the Chamber's development and looks forward to working closely together to further strengthen and deepen bilateral relations.
Zhu also highlighted China's strong focus on its friendship with Malaysia. He noted that in April, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Malaysia for the first time in 12 years, followed by Premier Li Qiang's visit in May for the ASEAN–China–GCC Summit. 'It is quite rare for both the President and the Premier to visit Malaysia in the same year,' he said.
He also pointed out that Chinese presence in Sabah — whether in tourism or commercial activities — is very vibrant. For example, Chinese tourists account for around 80% of international arrivals in Semporna.
Many major Chinese state-owned and private enterprises have also entered Sabah for various investment projects, with more large-scale ventures expected in the near future.
Zhu officially assumed his post in Kota Kinabalu on June 8. Since then, he has paid courtesy calls on the Head of State of Sabah, Tun Musa Aman, and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, reaffirming the traditional friendship between China and Malaysia.
He expressed willingness to work hand in hand with Sabah to implement the consensus reached by both nations' leaders, and to expand cooperation in agriculture, investment, tourism and education — contributing to the building of a high-level China-Malaysia strategic community with a shared future.
Also present at the meeting was Deputy Consul General Ouyang Huifeng.
This meeting further deepened the friendly ties between the Sabah-China Chamber of Commerce and the Consulate General of China in Kota Kinabalu, laying a strong foundation for future cooperation in trade, culture and education.
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