Kota Kinabalu: POIC Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee has called for the establishment of a direct flight route between Zhengzhou, China and Kota Kinabalu to boost economic ties and connectivity between the two regions.
He made the proposal while addressing delegates at the 15th China Henan International Investment and Trade Fair (CHIITF) in Zhengzhou from Sept 26-28.
Speaking at the event themed “Extensive Consultation on Opening-up and Cooperation and Win-Win Development in the Future”, the former Chief Minister pointed out Sabah’s pivotal position in Southeast Asia and its importance in China-Malaysia relations.
“Southeast Asia is Sabah and its neighbours,” Yong said, positioning the State as a crucial hub for regional cooperation.
He pointed out the remarkable growth in trade between China and Sabah, which surged from RM700 million in 1992 to RM10.7 billion in 2023 - a 15-fold increase that demonstrates the benefits of bilateral cooperation.
The fair, approved by China’s State Council and hosted by Henan Provincial Government, focused on industrial manufacturing, digital intelligence, logistics, agriculture and cultural tourism.
Yong also noted the increasing momentum in educational exchanges, revealing that Chinese student enrollment in Malaysia grew from 48,000 in 2024 to 70,000 by July 2025.
“The proposed Zhengzhou-KK direct flight would create a new bridge for education, tourism, business, and people-to-people exchanges, bringing more development opportunities to Borneo,” he said.
During his visit, Yong was accompanied by Sabah Institute of Art President Prof Datuk Seri Dr Wilson Yong and Sabah Stationery and Booksellers Association President Datuk Michael Chin.
The delegation also visited the POIC booth at the fair and met with Norman Dzulkarnain Mohd Nasri, Trade Consul at the Malaysian Consulate General in Shanghai, to discuss enhancing bilateral trade cooperation.
Additionally, Yong invited Henan stakeholders to visit Kota Kinabalu this November for the “Sabah China Expo” to further strengthen partnerships and elevate cooperation between the regions.
