CHINA: Mayor of Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Dato Wee Hong Seng delivered a presentation at the 2025 Culture and Creativity Driven Sustainable Urban Development International Forum in Wuhan, China where Kuching was showcased as a case study on how cross-sector integration of culture, sustainable tourism and urban regeneration can drive inclusive and sustainable city growth.

According to a statement, the Forum was organised by the Secretariat of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Urban Rural Development, and the Wuhan Planning and Design Institute, bringing together global city leaders, experts and policymakers to exchange best practices in sustainable urban development.

“In his presentation, Dato Wee highlighted Kuching’s achievements as Malaysia’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, as well as a Unity City, World Craft City, and participant in the Healthy City, Child-Friendly City Initiative and WHO Age-Friendly Cities Network.

“He explained how Kuching demonstrates the power of integration: gastronomy is not only food, but also a driver of livelihoods, innovation and tourism; eco-tourism safeguards biodiversity while creating jobs, and urban regeneration policies strengthen inclusivity through revitalised public spaces and age and child-friendly frameworks,” it said on Monday.

Dato Wee stressed that these cross-sector initiatives form a virtuous cycle, culture attracts tourism, tourism revenues support regeneration, and regeneration enriches both the cultural and tourism experience.

He also noted that Kuching’s model is aligned with the Braga Manifesto on Culture and Sustainability, the Mondiacult 2025 Agenda, and the Sarawak Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which embed culture at the core of development planning.

He further noted that by linking culture, tourism and regeneration, Kuching shows that even mid-sized cities can play a global leadership role in building sustainable and people-centred futures. -UKASnews