Miri City Council establishes ‘Friendship City’ relationship with China’s Shiyan City

MIRI (Oct 19): The Miri City Council (MCC) has forged a new international alliance by establishing a ‘Friendship City’ relationship with Shiyan City in the Hubei Province of China.

The milestone was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Shiyan City recently, involving Miri Mayor Adam Yii and the Mayor of Shiyan, Wang Yong Hui.

In his remarks, Yii said the MoU would open the door to new opportunities for collaboration that would bring tremendous benefits to both cities, fostering cooperation across various sectors.

Highlighting Shiyan City’s strengths, he hailed its leadership in automobile and truck manufacturing as ‘remarkable’.

“Its traditional Chinese medicine industry, particularly around Wudang Mountain, is renowned. Moreover, Shiyan’s abundant water resources serve the northern regions of China, showcasing its commitment to selfless contribution.

“As such, the cooperation between both (cities) will be covering economy, culture and tourism, and creating more opportunities for growth.”

Yii also said with this year marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, such direct channel had enhanced Sarawak’s capacity in engaging with the provinces and municipalities in China, ‘including this promising partnership with Shiyan’.

“Sarawak has maintained a close relationship with China, which is exemplified by the presence of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Sarawak.”

According to Yii, being the second largest city in Sarawak, Miri boasts a strategic location near Brunei, and its population of approximately 360,000 characterises its vibrant cultural diversity, which encompasses over 34 ethnic groups.

“Our city is built on the foundation of inclusivity and a harmonious blend of cultures and religions. It’s worth noting that Wudang Mountains was designated as a Unesco World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994, while Malaysia is home to five such sites, two of which are located in Miri – the Niah Caves, and Gunung Mulu National Park.”

He also highlighted Miri’s recent achievement of receiving the ‘Silver Award’ for Human-Centred City at the Smart Living Week in Seoul, South Korea, underscoring the city’s commitment to innovation and sustainable living.

Adding on, Yii expressed hope that this partnership would encourage an influx of tourists from Shiyan to Miri, whether for leisure or business, and aspirations for a future direct flight route that would further connect the two cities.