What next after Wang Yi’s brief visit?
Published on: Sunday, June 12, 2022
By: Datuk John Lo
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I would say “yes” for a number of reasons. Please see below.
https://www.theborneopost.com/2022/06/04/china-sabah-agree-to-strengthen-ties/
Wang Yi could have stopped-over anywhere in the region?
Wang Yi could have easily flown straight back to Beijing or any Chinese city or for that matter, stop-over in any city in Philippines, Indonesia or any surrounding countries.
He could have chosen Kuching or Brunei.
Brunei is a full Asean country, the Chinese Consulate in Kuching was established 5 years ahead of KK’s.
Knowing Wang Yi’s time is precious and tight, I would venture to guess his brief overnight stopover has significance, not a casual one, to which Sabah should pick up the hints and proceed to elevate the China/Sabah connection.
Other Chinese senior officials have come before Wang Yi.
China has been keeping an eye open on Sabah for some years. Little known to many Sabahans, some top Chinese officials have visited Sabah as early as 2012.
[a] Press quotation: “17 April, 2012—-Top political adviser Jia Qinglin visited Sabah and vowed to give more Chinese tourists to Sabah in his talks with Musa Aman.”
This meeting heralded the massive Chinese tourist arrivals and has encouraged Musa to promote tourism development and hotel constructions in Sabah. Musa was quick to take the opportunity.
[b] Press quotation: “On 12 August 2012, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his Malaysian counter-part Anifah Aman in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah.
[c] Press quotation: “12 September 2019, Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress met Musa Aman in KK.
China encourages relevant provinces and cities to conduct mutually beneficial cooperation with Sabah state in such areas as infrastructure, port construction and product processing, and supports Chinese enterprises to take positive attitudes to explore market in the state, said Wu.
He also called for efforts to facilitate the implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor and other strategies.”
The Musa’s discussion with Wu Bangguo in 2019 signalled a fast-maturing relationship as the subject matters in this meeting were much more extensive in nature, no doubt prompted by excellent relationship which has evolved since 2012.
I should also mention that Musa, Harris, Anifah and ex-Chinese Ambassador Chai Xi have played crucial roles in the establishment of the China Consulate Office in KK in 2015.
https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/cemy/eng/sbgx/t960610.htm
https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/cemy/eng/sbgx/t923597.htm
https://kepkas.sabah.gov.my/chinese-leaders-impressed-cm/
Xi Jinping’s aborted visit to Sabah
Much more significant for China/Sabah relationship had Xi Jingping [China’s President and Secretary General of CCP] been able to visit Sabah in October 2013.
He had wanted to spend 50% of his first official visit to Malaysia in Sabah - 4 and 5 October in West Malaysia and 5 and 6 October in Sabah. Intense preparation had been made for this historical visit.
For reasons unknown to this day, his plan to visit Sabah had been cancelled at the last minute. It would be to Sabah’s benefit to establish the reason in view of Wang Yi’s visit.
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/xi-jinping-and-the-sabah-enigma/
Visiting Chinese leaders have expressed interest in oil palm investment.
According to Dr Jeffry, Wang Yi has mentioned this again. Unfortunately, Sabah is not in a position to respond in the present context as most of Sabah’s 5 million metric tons of CPO are being exported by major non-Sabahan owners to China and Holland for downstream processing. Sabah must introduce a law or policy to retain CPO in Sabah for downstream.
China has given the hints, Sabah must respond.
Sabah is lucky to have been favoured with visits by a few top Chinese officials. Many countries would give an arm and a leg for these visits. Musa would have taken appropriate actions to explore the opportunities afforded by these top-level visits had he continued as CM.
Now that Hajiji’s initiatives have again attracted Wang YI’s visit, Sabah must take up the opportunity to elevate further economic ties with China especially in investment and the establishment of some “Belt and Road” projects. West Malaysia has got all the Chinese investment, Sabah has none. This requires urgent rectification.
Yong Teck Lee’s POIC initiative with CCB.
Soon after being appointed Chairman of POIC, Yong has established relationship with CCB [China Construction Bank] which is one of the 4 state owned Chinese Banks and one of the largest in China.
Yong’s initiative to connect with CCB is significant in the context of past visits to Sabah by top Chinese officials and current geopolitical development in the South China Sea and South Pacific.
Yong has created a window to CCB for Sabah which, if Sabah businessmen know what to do with this opportunity, will benefit them substantially. This they can do by asking Yong to assist in their networking with CCB.
The new Sabah/China relationship can start on a strong footing with Yong’s initiative with CCB.
China can be very important in Hajiji’s restructuring of Sabah’s economy.
Hajiji’s new inclusive economic management approach and success to attract more than RM25 billion investment since assuming office because of his investor-friendly policies have not gone unnoticed in Beijing. Some Chinese parties are among the investors that have signed up MOUs. With Wang Yi’s visit, many more potential Chinese investments may come to Sabah.
I hope Hajiji will lead a delegation to China as soon as it is okay to do so. Strike while the iron is hot.
- The views expressed here are the views of the writer Datuk John Lo and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.
- If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
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