By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 27: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng and Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol have expressed mutual interest in establishing a Kuching–Rouen Gastronomy Friendship City initiative, aimed at deepening collaboration between the two cities through joint programmes that intertwine gastronomy, cultural heritage, and digital innovation.
The proposal was mooted during Wee’s courtesy call on Mayer-Rossignol, who also serves as Rouen Normandie Metropolitan Area president, on the sidelines of the XVII Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Annual Conference held in this picturesque city of Enghien-les-Bainsnear, near Paris today.
According to a statement, both Kuching and Rouen were designated as Unesco Creative Cities of Gastronomy in 2021, making them natural partners in leveraging the power of food culture to promote sustainable urban development.
Their shared recognition provides a foundation for a unique collaboration that could see food not only as nourishment but as a bridge connecting people, traditions, and cutting-edge innovation.
During their meeting, the two mayors exchanged insights and best practices on harnessing gastronomy to strengthen local identity, community cohesion, and heritage preservation through community-driven initiatives.
The dialogue also delved into the transformative role of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in shaping the future of gastronomy. Both leaders agreed that when used responsibly, AI can be a powerful ally in preserving food heritage, enhancing creativity, and supporting data-driven policy and innovation in the culinary sector. — DayakDaily
