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Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysia-China Friendship Association Sabah has proposed a range of cultural and tourism cooperation initiatives with China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, including joint tourism routes and community-based exchange programmes.

The proposals were put forward by the association’s president, Dr Oh Ei Sun, during the 6th Belt and Road China-Malaysia Business Dialogue held on April 2 at the Ningxia Yuehai Conference Center.

Oh told delegates that despite differences in geography and climate, Sabah and Ningxia share rich and diverse cultural heritage that could form the basis for meaningful collaboration in cultural tourism.

“Sabah’s experience in this area can complement Ningxia’s profound historical and cultural heritage,” he said, pointing to the state’s identity as the Land Below the Wind,  home to more than 30 ethnic groups and over 80 languages living alongside one another.

He said that shifting tourism trends favour immersive experiences over purely scenic ones, making Sabah’s multicultural communities a potential draw for Chinese visitors.

Among the initiatives proposed were cross-regional joint tourism routes, exchanges in community-based sustainable tourism, cultural and artistic programmes and food festivals and chef exchange schemes.

Oh also called for cooperation to extend into youth, education and the creative industries rather than remaining confined to official channels.

He acknowledged practical hurdles, including limited air connectivity between the two regions and the risk of reducing cultural exchange to superficial representations.

Mutual respect and proper preservation of cultural heritage, he said, were essential to any partnership.

The dialogue was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Malaysia’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, Zhuang Yan, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Ningxia Committee, Ma Hui, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan, Chairman of the Malaysia-China Business Council.

Also representing the Sabah association were its Deputy President and Secretary-General,  Steven Liaw and Vice President  Chen Xiaochun.