Friendship cities from China, South Korea, Japan take part in Kuching Festival 2024

Wee (fourth right) presents a memento to Dr Sim while (from left) Wong, Zaiedi, Ting, Dr Abdul Rahman, Mok, Helmy and Enn Ong look on during the opening ceremony of Kuching Festival 2024 at MBKS Theatre, Kuching on July 30, 2024.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, July 31: Kuching is playing host to delegations from its international friendship cities in conjunction with this year’s Kuching Festival, taking place from July 26 to Aug 18.

Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the delegates are from Guro of South Korea; Zhenjiang, Quanzhou, Dongcheng, Taian, Chongzhou, Kunming (China); and Asuke (Japan).

“Your presence symbolises the strength and warmth of our international friendships.

“As the Chinese saying goes — a close friend from afar brings a distant land near.

“May your time in Kuching be both fruitful and enjoyable,” he said during the opening ceremony of Kuching Festival 2024 held at MBKS Theatre here yesterday night.

He further said the Kuching Festival, conceived by MBKS, serves as a vibrant platform for all Kuchingnites to come together and celebrate Sarawak’s diverse food and culture.

“It is an opportunity to share these treasures with our international delegates and visitors.

“Your participation is crucial to the success of this event, and I urge everyone to engage wholeheartedly in the festival’s activities,” he added.

With the theme ‘Bridging Generations: The Legacy of Our Kuching City’, this year’s Kuching Festival boasts over 330 food stalls offering a variety of international and local delicacies, the gastronomy booth, trade fair stalls, a garden corner, and a large stage on top of the man-made lake for nightly performances nonstop for 24 nights.

Its organising chairman Cr Mok Chuang Ping, in his speech, said the food fair can be classified as one of the largest official open-air functions held annually in Malaysia.

“Our goal is to continue growing and improving the Kuching Festival, making it bigger, better, and more inclusive each year.

“We aim to incorporate more sustainable practices, ensuring our celebrations are not only joyful but also environmentally responsible.

“We will also seek to expand the festival’s reach, attracting more visitors from outside Kuching and showcasing our city to the world,” he stated.

The Kuching Festival 2024 is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), Magnum 4D, Sports Toto, Ibraco, KTS Group, Cash Sweep, 38 Yayasan Amal Cinta, Love Book Association, and PPM.

The opening ceremony tonight was officiated by Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Also present were Dr Sim’s wife Datin Amar Enn Ong; Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) and in-charge of Kuching North City Commission – DBKU and Islamic Affairs, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi; Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Datuk Sebastian Ting; DBKU Mayor Helmy Othman; MBKS deputy mayor Dato Zaiedi Suhaili and MBKS acting city secretary Wong Ming Kong. — DayakDaily