Kota Kinabalu: No additional standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be imposed on travellers arriving in Sabah from China, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the only SOP requirement for travellers from China is to produce negative PCR tests for Covid-19 and be vaccinated as per their own country’s requirement, effective Jan 8.
“With China’s border officially opened three days ago on January 8, we look forward to welcoming Chinese visitors to our shores once again,” he said at the Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Consul General of China in Kota Kinabalu, Huang Shi-Fang, at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, Wednesday night.
Present were Sabah Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Nordlidah RM Jasni as guest of honour.
Hajiji said Sabah was looking forward to more investments from China as economic and trade cooperation between the State and China continued to progress.
“China has been our good neighbour. During the difficult times and at the height of the pandemic, the Chinese Government through the China Consulate here has extended various assistance to Sabah, especially medical assistance, and we are grateful.
“The rapport and good relations between our two countries have been, and will always, be good.
“Sabah and China have mutually benefited from each other and we have successfully harnessed benefits from the cooperation and exchanges in various fields,” he said.
On another note, the Chief Minister said in Sabah and throughout the country, the people celebrate the Lunar New Year, not only among citizens of Chinese origins but also among all the communities of diverse races and cultures.
“During this festival, we celebrate in unison. People of all ethnic groups join in the celebrations, reflecting our multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural unity in diversity,” he said.
“In the Chinese zodiac, this year is the Year of the Rabbit. The rabbit is associated with peace, prosperity and longevity, and also signifies a year of hope which is very apt indeed as we
move out of the challenging past two years of the pandemic.
“I have stressed in my New Year 2023 message that much has still to be done and we shall look forward to focusing on economic recovery and progressing our development Roadmap - the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya,” he said.
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