Dr Sim (fourth left) and Sarawak delegation members in a group photo with Norman (fourth right) during the courtesy call. – Photo from Facebook/Dr Sim Kui Hian
KUCHING (June 11): Sarawak could establish its own trade and tourism offices in China in future as part of efforts to strengthen economic, investment, and people-to-people ties with the world’s second-largest economy.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian raised the possibility following a courtesy call on Malaysia’s Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad in Beijing on Wednesday.
“Perhaps one day, we may have Sarawak Trade and Tourism offices, similar to Singapore (Statos) and Brunei (Statob),” he said in a Facebook post.
On the meeting with the Malaysian Ambassador, Dr Sim said Sarawak is seeking the assistance and facilitation of the Malaysian Embassy in China for several strategic initiatives, including the development of the proposed Fudan Medical School, Fudan Medical Centre, and eventually Fudan University in Miri.
Dr Sim said he briefed the ambassador and senior embassy officials on various aspects of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, as well as Sarawak’s plans involving collaboration with China’s Fudan University.
“We need our embassy’s kind assistance and facilitation,” he said.
Dr Sim noted that Malaysia’s mission in China is among the country’s largest overseas diplomatic missions, given the scale of bilateral activities in trade, tourism and other sectors at both national and provincial levels.
He said the embassy also faces challenges due to China’s vast size, the growing number of Malaysians residing in the country, staffing requirements, and the high cost of living in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.
According to figures shared by Dr Sim, there were 5,549 Malaysian students studying in China as of April this year, a number he expects to increase significantly in the years ahead.
On a related matter, Dr Sim said he was pleasantly surprised to meet several Sarawakians serving at the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing.
“I managed to meet three of them as others had prior engagements out of Embassy. That’s the most number (of fellow Sarawakians) that I ever recalled in my courtesy calls to Malaysian embassies and high commissions in various countries over the years,” he added.
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