Photo caption – From left: MCCC Sabah Deputy Director of Public Relations Datuk Yong Wei Hau; MCCC Sabah Vice President Yong Siew Lee; Vice President and Organising Committee Chairman Louis Su; Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Affairs Office Director Jiang Fan; Guangzhou Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau Exchange and Cooperation Division Director Liao Zhi; Overseas Chinese Affairs Division Director Huang Beiliang; Deputy Director Wu Wenjing; and Level IV Researcher Wu Dongfeng of the Guangzhou Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau.
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia and China have significant potential to expand cooperation in trade, industry and investment.
Stronger engagement between government and business communities, closer industry linkages and practical collaboration can help businesses identify new opportunities, access wider markets and create fresh avenues for bilateral economic growth.
Led by President Datuk Dexter Lau, the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah will organise the Malaysia-China Guangzhou Industry Visit and Networking Dinner in Guangzhou, China, from November 11 to 14, 2026.
The programme aims to strengthen ties between the Malaysian and Chinese business communities while promoting cooperation in agriculture, industrial development, investment and trade.
As part of the preparations, MCCC Sabah Vice President and Organising Committee Chairman Louis Su, accompanied by Vice President Yong Siew Lee and Deputy Director of Public Relations Datuk Yong Wei Hau, travelled to Guangzhou from October 16 to 18.
The delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, where it also met with representatives from the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
The delegation subsequently paid a courtesy visit to the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou. During the visits, the delegation briefed the respective officials on preparations for the upcoming programme and extended invitations to attend the Malaysia-China Guangzhou Political and Business Exchange, Industry Visit and Networking Dinner.
During the visit to the Guangzhou United Front Work Department and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the delegation was received by Jiang Fan, Director of the Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Affairs Office; Huang Beiliang, Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Division; Wu Wenjing, Deputy Director of the division; Liao Zhi, Director of the Exchange and Cooperation Division of the Guangzhou Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau; and Wu Dongfeng, a Level IV Researcher from the same bureau.
Discussions centred on the upcoming Guangzhou government and business exchange and industry visit.
The meeting served not only to brief Guangzhou officials on the programme but also to strengthen ties between MCCC Sabah and the city’s overseas Chinese affairs authorities, with a view to fostering closer business connections and creating more opportunities for collaboration between Malaysia and Guangzhou.
Through continued communication and the effective use of overseas Chinese networks, both sides could facilitate business introductions, encourage industry partnerships and improve the exchange of trade and commercial information.
Sabah and Guangzhou have room to expand cooperation in agriculture, food-related industries and other commercial sectors. MCCC Sabah hopes the upcoming visit will bring relevant government agencies, chambers of commerce and businesses closer together, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.
Louis Su and Datuk Yong Wei Hau subsequently paid a courtesy visit to Malaysian Consul General in Guangzhou Harris Alwi to brief him on the delegation’s preparations, programme arrangements and objectives.
Louis said the initiative aims to build stronger connections between government and business communities in Malaysia and Guangzhou, with a focus on deepening cooperation in agriculture, industrial development, investment and trade. He expressed hope that the programme would create more opportunities for business matching, resource sharing and market expansion for companies on both sides.
The delegation has received support from several Malaysian federal and Sabah state government representatives, including Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Chan Foong Hin and Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, who was recently appointed as a member of the Dewan Negara Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and International Relations.
Sabah’s participation will also include Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Datuk Jamawi bin Jaafar, accompanied by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Datuk Ts. Hj. Jifrin Hj. Mohamad; Sabah Agriculture Department Director Jackson Ronald Jaimi; Sabah Fisheries Department Director Lawrence Kissol Jr; Sabah Fishermen and Fisheries Development Cooperative (Ko-Nelayan) General Manager Datuk Haji Yusof bin Ag. Besar; Sabah Fish Marketing Sdn Bhd (SAFMA) General Manager Burhan bin Japar; and Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat Chief Operating Officer Datuk Ramlee bin Kariah, among other officials.
Their participation reflects the commitment of Sabah’s government and business communities to strengthening cross-regional engagement and advancing practical industry cooperation.
Harris Alwi expressed his support for the upcoming programme and commended MCCC Sabah for its continued efforts to promote economic and trade relations between Malaysia and China.
MCCC Sabah hopes the Guangzhou exchange and industry visit will further strengthen ties between Sabah and Guangzhou, encourage closer engagement among overseas Chinese affairs authorities, government agencies, chambers of commerce and businesses, and create more opportunities for Sabah companies to enter the Chinese market, identify potential partners and explore investment prospects.
