Chennai-KL Twining Proposal On Fast Track

CHENNAI, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- Top officials from Kuala Lumpur and Chennai fine-tuned a memorandum of understanding today, adding a fillip to their proposed twining as sister cities. Visiting Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the respective mayors would sign the document in Kuala Lumpur, during the planned visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Malaysia in November. The twining of both Asian cities, he said, augured well for Chennai and Kuala Lumpur, which shared robust historical ties for decades. "Both cities are fast growing in Asia and the memorandum of understanding would foster closer cultural, economic and tourism ties. It would certainly improve existing relations between both cities," Nong Chik told the media in Chennai today.

The minister, who is leading a 20-member delegation, held talks with Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M. K. Stalin at the State Secretariat office in the south Indian capital. He noted Tamil Nadu and Malaysia enjoyed cordial relations and the proposed twinning of the cities reflected the commitment to further enhance two-way diplomatic ties. "Historically, the people of Tamil Nadu and Malaysia enjoyed closer cultural links because many of the Tamil population originated from south India. "With the signing, I expect trade between Chennai and Kuala Lumpur could further double or triple in the next few years," said Raja Nong Chik. His deputy, Datuk M. Saravanan, and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail were also part of the delegation to Chennai.