Sabah–China Ties Poised for Boost Through Renewed City Links

25 March 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China here has expressed support for revisiting sister-city partnerships to further strengthen tourism, cultural and economic ties with Sabah, while 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 sustained connections would deliver mutual benefits, including opportunities for knowledge exchange, community development and sustainable growth.

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

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

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

Joniston noted that DBKK had previously signed friendship city agreements with Heyuan (2010), Jiangmen (2012), Wuhan (2015), as well as Hangzhou and Xi’an (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 a total of 657,528 Chinese visitors were welcomed in the previous year.

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

During the meeting, Dr Zhu also proposed the establishment of a Sabah tourism and cultural office in Beijing to further strengthen promotional efforts and outreach within the Chinese market.

Both parties identified tourism as a key pillar under the Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda, noting that continued collaboration could contribute significantly to economic growth and community development.

The Consul General also shared perspectives on tourism-driven development, including initiatives aimed at community upliftment, and emphasised the value of continued exchanges of knowledge and best practices—particularly in areas such as poverty alleviation through tourism.

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