KUCHING, May 13: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Quanzhou City of China as “Friendship City ” in a ceremony that took place at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
Representing MBKS was Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, while Zhang Yigong, Party Secretary of the CPC Quanzhou Municipal Committee, Quanzhou City, represented the Chinese delegation.
The event was witnessed by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, as well as Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee Zhou Zuyi.
Wee said the MoU was signed to not only maintain the close ties between the two cities but also to enhance further collaboration in areas of economic, cultural, education and tourism, among others.
“As Kuching is now named the City of Gastronomy, we are also looking forward to more collaborations in the food and gourmet sector,” said Wee in his weekly “ShallWeeTalk” live session today.
Anticipating more exchanges between the two cities, Wee expressed hopes for an influx of travellers from Quanzhou City and foresaw that the Mainland Chinese travellers may start with chartered flights, before establishing direct flights between the two locations in the future.
He highlighted that the initiative began with the signing of a Letter of Intent under former mayor Dato James Chan and has now come to fruition with the signing of the MoU.
“One of the terms of the MoU states that if no parties express intention to put an end to the collaboration, then it is understood that the collaboration will continue,” said Wee.
Zhou and the Chinese delegation arrived in Kuching at 11am and are scheduled to return to China later in the afternoon.
Before the signing the MoU at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, the delegation held meetings with Public Health, Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Sim Kui Hian as well as Sarawak Chinese leaders, including Federation of Chinese Associations Sarawak president Dato Richard Wee, Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sarawak Dong Zhong president Temenggong Vincent Lau. — DayakDaily
