Miri-Guangning link-up to foster closer ties, mutual devt

MIRI (Aug 27): The signing of an agreement to establish a friendship city relationship between Miri City and Zhaoping City of Guangning County, China is set to foster closer ties and enhance bilateral cooperation in industries such as trade, culture, and tourism.

“The signing of the agreement signifies the formal establishment of relations, which will undoubtedly elevate the various undertakings of both parties to a new level,” said Guangning County State Secretary Chen Chao Chang.

He said this in his speech prior to joining Miri mayor Adam Yii in signing the Friendship City Agreement during a ceremony at Miri City Hall yesterday.

Witnessing the signing were China’s Consul-General in Kuching Xing Weiping and Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang, who represented Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Adding on, Chen said the relationship with Miri started in 2013 following the Guangning County’s establishment of a friendship city relationship with Sibu.

“In 2019, Miri mayor Adam Yii and representatives of the Miri Guangning Association led a delegation to Guangning County to promote exchanges and cooperation in trade, culture and other areas.

“Thereafter, in December 2023, the county and Miri signed a Letter of Intent to develop friendly exchanges and cooperation relations, marking a new chapter in our development.”

Chen believed the relationship holds ‘vast potential and unlimited possibilities’ as Miri’s main focus is in green development and tourism, similar to Guangning County.

“Guangning is renowned as one of the top 10 Bamboo towns in China, and is a national model of green ecology and afforestation.

“It has developed tourism attractions, such as the Ten Thousand Acres Bamboo Sea and the Baoding Mountain Scenic area, establishing itself as the only national-level Bamboo Sea Forest Park in the province.

“Green is the shared foundation between Miri and Guangning, while timber and tourism are the common denominators of our development,” he said.