Sabah, Zhejiang media forge closer ties through exchange visit

19 December 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) hosted a high tea on Friday to welcome a media delegation from China’s Zhejiang province, marking a step forward in strengthening media ties between the two regions.

SJA president Mariah Doksil said the courtesy visit was a return engagement following SJA’s visit to three cities in Zhejiang province in September this year.

“The delegation visited several media organisations in Kota Kinabalu and also toured Kian Kok Middle School to explore potential future collaboration.

“SJA hopes this visit will open a new chapter in promoting Sabah through the writings and coverage of media representatives from Zhejiang,” she said.

Mariah also expressed her appreciation to the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu for sponsoring the Sabah journalists’ visit to China last September, as well as for co-hosting the Zhejiang media delegation’s visit to Sabah.

The Zhejiang delegation was led by Zhang Wen, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government, and Shentu Qinger, Deputy Director of the Information Office of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government.

In his speech, Zhang expressed hope for increased cultural, educational, economic and friendship programmes between Sabah and Zhejiang.

He noted that Sabah’s rich cultural heritage, alongside its Chinese influences, provided a strong foundation for deeper bilateral cooperation. Zhang also thanked the SJA for hosting the delegation and said he looked forward to more exchange programmes in the future.

The four-day, three-night visit is expected to become an annual initiative aimed at strengthening cultural exchange and fostering closer cooperation among media practitioners from both regions.