Sabah chamber, Shanghai association forge strategic partnership

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 30): The Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) and the Shanghai Fengxian District Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Association have reached a strategic cooperation intention aimed at strengthening long-term collaboration between Sabah and Shanghai.

The proposed cooperation framework will focus on three core pillars:
1. Integrated development of cultural and tourism resources,
2. Economic and trade linkages between overseas Chinese enterprises, and
3. Youth innovation and entrepreneurship exchanges.

Through these initiatives, both parties seek to establish a sustainable cooperation mechanism and promote complementary advantages in cultural exchange, commercial engagement and industrial collaboration.

SCCC president Datuk Frankie Liew stated that the visit had laid a strong foundation for future cooperation.

He noted that both organizations shared a common vision for pragmatic collaboration and long-term partnership.

“This visit has established a solid platform for cooperation between the two chambers. Moving forward, both sides will continue to strengthen coordination, translate agreements into concrete outcomes, and work towards mutual benefit and shared success,” Liew said.

He made the announcement on Monday following the successful completion of the SCCC delegation’s official visit and exchange programme in Shanghai.

It is understood that the SCCC paid a special visit to Fengxian District, Shanghai, last week, where in-depth discussions and exchanges were held with the Fengxian Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Association.

During the visit, Zheng Fei, President of the Fengxian Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Association, warmly welcomed the delegation and personally guided members on a tour of key cultural landmarks, including Yan Zi Academy, the Audio-Visual Gallery and the “Three-Body: Earth’s Past” exhibition. The visit provided the delegation with an immersive understanding of Fengxian’s rich cultural heritage and diverse cultural tourism potential.

Subsequently, both parties held a formal dialogue session, during which they engaged in comprehensive discussions on future cooperation directions, priority sectors, and implementation mechanisms. The exchanges further strengthened mutual understanding and consolidated consensus on collaboration.

Zheng expressed her optimism regarding the partnership, highlighting Fengxian’s abundant cultural tourism assets and vibrant overseas Chinese business community. She conveyed her hope that this engagement would serve as a catalyst for building a strong cooperation bridge with SCCC, enabling resource sharing and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Liew remarked that the visit to Fengxian was highly productive, noting the district’s strong development momentum and sincere commitment to collaboration. He expressed confidence that both sides could explore deeper cooperation across multiple sectors and jointly expand into international markets.

During the visit, the SCCC delegation was also warmly received by Chen Jing, Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Fengxian District People’s Government, who hosted an official luncheon in honour of the delegation.

Both parties engaged in cordial and constructive exchanges, focusing on enhancing economic and trade cooperation, strengthening overseas Chinese resource connectivity, and expanding the scope of future collaboration. The discussions further reinforced the role of overseas Chinese organizations as a vital bridge linking enterprises and institutions between Sabah and Shanghai.