Miri City and the Singkawang municipal authority in West Kalimantan have initiated a friendship city agreement to promote tourism, creative economy, and cultural sectors.
The agreement will see both parties promoting various sectors, not limiting to tourism.
“We hope that our meeting can become the foundation of our two parties to cooperate in various sectors,” Singkawang Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie said in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, on Monday to Antaranews.
She also expressed the hope that besides supporting development in the three sectors, the friendship city agreement, initiated through a letter of intent, would bolster efforts to enhance residents’ welfare and economic development in Singkawang and Miri.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Miri City, Adam Yii Siew Sang, said that his city shares several similarities with Singkawang, for instance, regarding the residents’ tolerance and cultural heritage.
“I am fond of my stay in Singkawang; besides, I intend to develop a friendship city agreement. Miri and Singkawang cities have many similarities, particularly in social tolerance,” he remarked.
He added that the cooperation agreement would open new avenues for business and social cooperation between the residents of the two cities.
“The letter of intent signed between the two parties will open new avenues of business recovery and cooperation between residents of the two cities.
“As we are neighbouring countries, we must become a good neighbour and forge a good and beneficial relationship with each other,” the Miri mayor said.
He lauded the cooperation, saying it has provided new opportunities for Sarawak residents to develop themselves by collaborating with Singkawang residents in various aspects.
“(The cooperation agreement) is a huge opportunity for the Sarawak people, particularly for their business development, cultural exchange, education, medical tourism, and other aspects. We believe we can develop together those sectors,” he remarked.
Miri City is the second largest city in Sarawak, and Miri City Council, under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Sarawak, is the central organization managing the city’s development.
Singkawang is the capital of West Kalimantan and the second largest city in the province that borders the Sarawak.