KUCHING, Nov 27: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg says his visit to Fuzhou in Fujian Province will pave the way for greater economic collaborations between Sarawak and the Southeast China province.
Abang Johari, who is now on his third and last day of his working visit to Fujian Province, said Sarawak was keen to establish an economic relationship with Fujian as part of its efforts to develop a modern economy in Sarawak.
He said this in his return address during a courtesy call on the provincial governor, who was represented by Executive Vice-Governor Zhang Zhinan, at a local hotel in Fuzhou.
“Sarawak is exploring ways to bring digitalisation to its schools, particularly preschools, and discussions were held yesterday with the Fuzhou-based NetDragon Websoft Ltd, a world leader in interactive classroom learning, to explore ways in introducing technology-based learning in Sarawak,” said Abang Johari in a press statement today.
He told his Chinese counterpart that Sarawak was investing RM1 billion to upgrade its IT infrastructure to enable effective digitalisation of its economy, including education.
He expressed his hope that enhanced economic ties between Fujian and Sarawak would also pave the way for a stronger people-to-people relationship that should help the tourism industry in both regions.
At the end of his address, Abang Johari extended an invitation to the Provincial Governor to visit Sarawak to cement cultural and economic ties between both sides.
Later, both heads of government witnessed the signing of a collaborative agreement between Sarawak-based Aspire Link Sdn Bhd (Aspire) and Fuzhou-based NetDragon Websoft Holdings Ltd (NetDragon), a world leader and a provider of digital education software and hardware.
Aspire Link was represented by Dato Stanley Ling Tiung Leng, while NetDragon by its vice-president Dato Dr Simon Leung. The signing was witnessed by Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research, who represented the Sarawak government.
Among those in the Chief Minister’s entourage were Minister of Finance II-cum-Minister of International Trade and e-Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
The Chief Minister’s itinerary was capped with a tour to the historical and cultural streets of Three Lanes and Seven Alleys in Fuzhou that was built during the Western Jin Dynasty. — DayakDaily
