Kota Kinabalu: China continues to top the list of international source markets in terms of tourist arrivals to Sabah from January to August 2025, said caretaker Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Crhistina Liew.
She revealed this when delivering a speech at the Confucian-Islamic Civilisation Dialogue at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Tuesday.
Acknowledging this consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu Dr Zhu Xinglong reported that 500,000 Chinese tourists visited Sabah during the first eight months of this year.
Liew said Sabah had benefited significantly from the long-standing relationship between Malaysia and China.
She said the relationship includes cooperation in the economy, tourism, education and cultural exchange.
“China is one of our largest sources of international tourists, apart from cultural exchange programmes, research collaborations and heritage conservation initiatives,” she said.
“This dialogue represents a continuation of that long history between Malaysia and China to deepen cultural diplomacy and ensure that our next generation inherits not only economic ties but also enduring bonds of understanding and friendship,” she said.
“As we enter an age of globalisation, we must not allow our cultural heritage to fade. Instead, we must preserve it, learn from it and share it with the world,” she added.
She assured that the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment remains committed to safeguarding the state’s cultural assets.
“Institutional bodies such as the Sabah Museum play a central role in documenting and preserving our history while educating the younger generation about their heritage,” she said.
Liew was pleased that Chairman Liu Yuzhu and the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation will visit the Sabah Museum to open new avenues for collaboration in cultural preservation.
She said the dialogue serves as a significant platform where history, philosophy and culture converge to remind us of the common values that bind humanity together.
Liew said President Xi Jinping, during his recent meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had highlighted the importance of continuing the Confucian-Islamic Civilisation Dialogue and strengthening people-to-people exchanges.
“At a time when the world faces challenges of misunderstanding, polarisation and division, we must continue to build bridges of dialogue, not walls of separation,” she said.
