Sabah, Dalian business chambers to deepen bilateral cooperation

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 20): The Dalian General Chamber of Commerce of China and the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce have formally signed a Friendly Chamber Agreement here, marking a new milestone in business exchanges and cooperation between Dalian and Sabah.

The agreement was signed on behalf of both parties by Datuk Jonathan Koh, JP, Vice President of the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce, and Li Yanfeng, Vice Chairman of the Dalian Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Dalian Federation of Industry and Commerce.

The signing ceremony underscored the shared commitment of both chambers to strengthen ties and explore new avenues of cooperation. Representatives from both sides agreed that the Friendly Chamber Agreement represents not only an important institutional exchange, but also a fresh starting point for the business communities of Dalian and Sabah to pursue mutual growth and shared development.

Koh said that despite the geographical distance separating Dalian and Sabah, both regions share a common aspiration for win-win cooperation. He noted that the two economies are highly complementary in terms of industrial structure, resource endowments and market potential, creating strong prospects for collaboration.

“By establishing a friendly chamber relationship, we are creating a more solid and efficient platform for our member enterprises to engage with one another, enabling information sharing, resource integration and practical cooperation,” he said.

Expressing confidence in the long-term impact of the agreement, Koh said the partnership would open a new chapter in bilateral business relations. He added that both sides aim to deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, technological innovation, cultural exchanges and talent development, while supporting enterprises in expanding into international markets and seizing new growth opportunities.

The Sabah delegation present at the ceremony included Datuk Simon Teoh, Vice President of the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce; Public Relations Director Anthony Leong; council members Lucas Kwan, Chin Hui Zhi, Desmond Hsiu and Chan Jun Git; as well as Jaccie Koh, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications (Global Investment) at Invest Sabah.

The Dalian delegation was led by Li Yanfeng and included Guo Wei, Director of the Economic Liaison Department of the Dalian Federation of Industry and Commerce; Tian Yinglin, Deputy Director of the Protocol, Culture and News Division of the Dalian Municipal Foreign Affairs Office; and Lin Hai, Chairman of the Federation of Industry and Commerce of Dalian Jinpu New Area.

Several enterprise representatives from Dalian and other parts of China were also present.