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KOTA KINABALU: Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has suggested that the City Hall (DBKK) revisit its sister city agreements with cities worldwide.

Joniston, whose portfolio includes overseeing DBKK, said the city could leverage its international partnerships to strengthen Kota Kinabalu’s profile as a tourism hub while promoting cultural exchange and urban economic activity.

He cited China, Sabah’s main tourism market, noting that DBKK signed friendship city agreements with Jiangmen in 2012, Wuhan in 2015, and Hangzhou and Xi’an in 2019.

“Revisiting these relationships could open fresh opportunities for cultural and economic collaboration,” he said, adding, “Kota Kinabalu has the potential to position itself more strongly on the international stage, and I believe our sister city networks can help us achieve that if we fully utilise them.”

He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 10th Annual Chinese New Year Carnival on Wednesday, which ran from Feb 9 and featured dragon and unicorn dances, singing performances and hawker stalls, with Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah and Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah President Tan Sri TC Goh in attendance.