By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Dec 20: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) will study potential direct flight routes between Sarawak and its friendship cities in China.
MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said this aligns with Sarawak’s plans to launch its own airline soon, following the acquisition of MASwings from the federal government.
“However, Sarawak will only have one [airline]. In China, almost all the provinces [particularly friendship cities] have their own airline.
“For the time being, MBKS will act as a one-stop [centre] for inquiries and [coordination] as we try to move forward,” he told reporters after attending the Malaysia’s Sarawak-China Cooperation Forum and Friendship Cities Roundtable Meeting held at Imperial Hotel here today.
Wee further stated that the initiative ties into Sarawak’s broader strategy of fostering relationships with its numerous friendship cities, which include Sibu, Miri, and other regions, collectively amounting to over 30 partnerships.
“We view these as friendship cities of Sarawak as a whole—we are not saying ‘this is my friendship city or that is my friendship city’ (sic).
“Thus, we will help each other collaborate on various fronts, including technology exchange, investment, and tourism,” he added.
At the same time, Wee mentioned that the friendship cities will aim to integrate business delegations into future visits to explore opportunities for economic growth and mutual benefit with global partners.
In a joint statement after the meeting, the friendship cities collectively reaffirmed their commitment to fostering strong partnerships.
Among the key areas of collaboration are strengthening trade, investment, and technology exchange; collaborating on the development of green and smart infrastructure projects; encouraging student exchange programs and academic partnerships; and promoting cultural and natural tourism assets, supporting the growth of creative industries, and integrating economic and cultural advancements for mutual benefit.
“This declaration reflects our shared vision of sustainable growth and mutual prosperity.
“Through collaboration, we aim to build inclusive, resilient, and thriving communities for the benefit of all,” the meeting delegates stated. — DayakDaily
