Business

Sabah, China Eye Stronger Sister-City Ties to Boost Tourism and Investment

KOTA KINABALU, 26 March 2026: The Chinese Consulate office here has expressed support for revisiting sister-city partnerships to strengthen tourism, cultural, and economic ties with Sabah, including exploring new avenues for collaboration.

The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Dr Zhu Xinglong, said that maintaining strong and continuous connections can bring mutual benefits, including opportunities for knowledge exchange, community development, and sustainable growth initiatives.

He made these remarks during a meeting with Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, on Wednesday, to discuss commitment to deepening Sabah–China relations and exploring mutually beneficial partnerships.

Joniston, who oversees Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and chairs the Sabah Tourism Board, said efforts to revitalise these connections are timely as Sabah continues to position itself as a competitive and sustainable tourism destination with promising investment opportunities.

He added that deeper engagement would support long-term growth while creating more opportunities for local communities and industry players.

Joniston noted that DBKK had signed friendship city agreements with Heyuan in 2010, Jiangmen in 2012, Wuhan in 2015, as well as Hangzhou and Xi’an in 2019.

China remains one of Sabah’s key tourism markets, consistently recording the highest number of international arrivals.

In January this year, Sabah recorded 54,102 visitor arrivals from China, while last year, the state welcomed a total of 657,528 Chinese visitors.

Sabah is currently connected to eight cities in China through direct flights.

In the meeting, Zhu also suggested that Sabah establish a tourism and cultural office in Beijing to further strengthen promotional efforts and outreach in the Chinese market.

Both sides also highlighted tourism as a key pillar under the Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda, noting that ongoing collaboration could contribute to economic growth and community development.

The Consul General also shared perspectives on tourism-driven development, including community upliftment initiatives, noting that continued exchange of knowledge and best practices, particularly in areas such as poverty alleviation through tourism, could offer valuable insights for both sides.

The meeting was also attended by Special Officer to the Chief Minister Yee Tsai Yiew and officers from DBKK and the Sabah Tourism Board.

 

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