Property Hunter Magazine Issue 64 2015 | Page 38

SABAH PROPERTY NEWS SABAH PROPERTY NEWS Keep track of the latest property and real estate news plus reviews in the property market in Sabah KIMIS Chinese-Consulate General’s Office To Be Opened In Kota Kinabalu here, and they warmly welcomed the idea. “We expect a Consul-General for the office here be appointed soon which would also mark the office’s full fledged operation. It may take time, but we hope it’ll be done within the first quarter of this year,” said Liu. C Consul General of the Republic of China in Sarawak, Liu Quan (Left) met with Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman hinese nationals in Sabah will be better represented with the setting up of its Consulate-General’s office here, expected to be ready by the first quarter of this year. China’s Counsel-General for Kuching Liu Quan said an advance team, led by the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, deputy Consul-General Sun Xiaowu, was currently in the city to ensure the smooth realisation of the much awaited plan. 38 www.PropertyHunter.com.my “Moves are underway to identify a suitable location for a temporary office, and better still a permanent one. “We have met the State Governor (Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin), Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Musa Aman), Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister (Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun) and State Speaker (Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak) to express our intention of opening a Consulate-General’s office The Consulate-General’s office was among two requests made by the Sabah Government, with the other being the setting up of China banks in the state to further boost the economic sector of both countries. Liu said the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the Bank of China had been in the city to carry out feasibility studies, adding: “I believe with the Consulate-General’s office to be opened here, they will give it further consideration.” He added the Consulate-General’s office would further boost the existing good rapport between China and Sabah. “Even after several incidences involving our nationals here, Sabah remains a favourite destination. The Chinese love the nature, the beaches and the people here. I love it here, too. “Last year, Chinese arrivals accounted for about 300,000 and we expect at least four million arrivals in the next five years.” On another development, Liu welcomed the proposal by the federal government to exempt the visa requirement for China nationals to attract them to the country. “I also found out about it from newspapers. And, although there is no decision yet, I believe Beijing will have a positive response to it.” www.PropertyHunter.com.my 39