Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s promising future as a key economic and cultural hub in Southeast Asia was at the forefront of discussions at the 2025 Malaysia-China Trade and Economic Exchange Conference.
Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, former Chief Minister of Sabah and Chairman of the Sabah Chinese Economic Conference, underscored the province’s strategic position and its immense potential to further strengthen ties with China.
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In his keynote speech, Yong highlighted the deep-rooted relationship between Malaysia and China, tracing it from the ancient Maritime Silk Road to the contemporary Belt and Road Initiative.
He noted how Sabah, with its seamless maritime connectivity, is uniquely positioned to serve as a gateway to ASEAN’s vast markets.
According to Yong, Sabah’s strengths lie in its vast natural resources and its expanding sectors such as green energy, digital infrastructure, modern agriculture, cultural tourism, and wellness - sectors that resonate strongly with the industrial profiles of Chinese cities like Zhengzhou, Jiangxi, and Fuzhou.
“We are eager to see China companies bring advanced concepts and technologies to Sabah. At the same time, we hope Sabah’s high-quality resources can, through your platforms, reach international markets. This will deepen cooperation in trade, culture, and tourism and benefit people on both sides,” he said.
He emphasized that Sabah’s investment-friendly initiatives, such as the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, provide a solid foundation for entrepreneurs to establish themselves in the region.
The Sabah Chinese Economic Conference, he assured, would continue to offer comprehensive support for Chinese enterprises, facilitating everything from resource matching to policy interpretation and project implementation.
As the conference unfolded, Cai Xiaodong, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Fuzhou Rural Revitalization Promotion Association, also voiced his optimism for deepening ties between Malaysia and China, particularly in agriculture.
Cai, who has been actively promoting international expansion for Chinese agricultural enterprises, spoke about his association’s mission to help members “go global” and find new growth opportunities abroad.
He shared how Fuzhou, a major agricultural city in Jiangxi Province, was taking steps to elevate its agricultural exports despite challenges, such as a relatively low share of agricultural imports and exports in the city’s GDP.
“Gaps represent potential, and potential represents opportunity,” Cai remarked.
Drawing from the successes of previous international collaborations, including a recent trip to Malaysia, Cai expressed confidence that Sabah’s fertile ground for agriculture and other sectors would present valuable opportunities for Chinese entrepreneurs.
“We are here to foster greater cooperation, not just between our countries but within our regions. Sabah is a strategic partner in ASEAN, and we look forward to exploring opportunities with its dynamic entrepreneurs,” Cai added.
The discussion framed Sabah as an ideal partner for China in the pursuit of mutual development and shared prosperity. Their words, underscored by a spirit of collaboration, set the stage for a new era of trade and investment that promises to benefit both Sabah and China.
As the conference continues, both Malaysian and Chinese entrepreneurs are keen to explore avenues for expanding business and cultural exchanges, marking what many hope will be the beginning of a “Golden Decade” for Malaysia-China relations.
