After the COVID-19 pandemic, more Chinese travelers are choosing Sabah as their destination, which is positive, according to state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.

According to her, over 17,000 of the 1.6 million tourists who arrived in the country as of June this year are Chinese.

"This has given our tourism business life and optimism.

She said yesterday at the closing ceremony of the "2023 Chinese Cultural Holiday Programme - Sabah, Malaysia" at Kian Kok Middle School in this city, "It shows that despite facing global challenges, Sabah continues to maintain a strong appeal, attracting visitors from around the world to experience our natural beauty and unique culture."

The Malaysia-China Friendship Association Sabah organized the event. Vivien Lee, Liew's political secretary, read her remarks.

The inaugural event, according to Liew, who is also an Api Api Assemblywoman, not only enhanced Sabah's cultural legacy but also boosted friendship relations between Malaysia and China.

Notably, this year commemorates the Belt and Road Initiative's tenth anniversary as well as the 49th anniversary of Malaysia and China's diplomatic relations and their comprehensive strategic cooperation.

She stated, "The timing of this event is closely woven with the history of our two nations," and added that it provided them with a wonderful opportunity to appreciate their friendship and gain a deeper understanding of one another.

As for the "Chinese Cultural Holiday Programme's" overwhelming success, Liew claimed that Sabah teachers and students had both immersed themselves in traditional Chinese arts, music, and crafts, experiencing the rich and varied world of Chinese culture.

More than 400 primary and secondary school students from Sabah were taught traditional Chinese culture and arts by 15 teachers from Shanxi Province, including traditional martial arts, folk dances, percussion music, Chinese classical music, paper cutting, dough sculpture, Chinese knotting, calligraphy, and Chinese painting.

The Malaysia-China Friendship Association Sabah was also praised by Liew for its important role in fostering trade, cultural exchange, and tourism between Malaysia and China.

"This extraordinary event has not only improved the lives of our Chinese students, but it has also given non-Chinese students a chance to learn about, appreciate, and advance traditional Chinese culture. It has also sped up the exchange of Chinese culture with the rest of the globe.

Let's continue to cooperate so that we can contribute more to the relationship between Malaysia and China and create bridges across cultural divides that unite us.