Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia celebrates 52 years of diplomatic relations with China, highlighting the strong economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
“Malaysia was the first Asean country to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1974, and they have been our largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years,” Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Chan Foong Hin said during the 52nd Anniversary of Malaysia-China Diplomatic Relations Chinese New Year Celebration and Chinese Martial Arts Overseas Communication Friendship Showcase, here, Saturday.
Aside from the anniversary celebration, the event also featured a cultural exchange programme themed “Across Mountains and Seas, Our Friendship Endures” spearheaded by the Jiangmen Municipal People’s Government Information Office.
It showcased lion dance performances by the Nambung Dragon and Lion Sports Association, followed by the screening of Jiangmen cultural tourism promotional videos and a Choy Li Fut martial arts promotional video.
Cultural dances by Kian Kok Dance Club were featured during the event, along with wushu exercises by the Sabah Wushu Art and Culture Association and heartfelt song performances.
This is also the first time a foreign government delegation, particularly from China, has been officially sent to participate in a Sabahan Chinese New Year celebration since 2018.
Chan stressed the crucial role of cultural exchange in sustaining and deepening Malaysia-China relations beyond formal diplomacy and trade.
“From these exchanges, we are able to create mutual understanding and trust that cannot be achieved through official agreements.
“By bringing Chinese cultural performances directly to local communities in Sabah, this event allows the younger generation to experience authentic expressions of Chinese heritage firsthand,” he said.
He said civil society and community-based associations act as vital connectors between nations, as they translate high-level diplomatic relations into meaningful on-the-ground engagement.
“Without the commitment of local groups such as the Malaysian-Chinese Friendship Association Sabah, cultural cooperation would remain symbolic rather than experiential,” he said.
Chan also welcomed the Jiangmen Radio and Television teams invited to film the Chinese New Year celebration, which will then be broadcasted in the city. Their participation represents cross-border media collaboration and cultural communication between the two countries.
“With their help, we can share the rich cultural atmosphere of Chinese New Year and Malaysia’s vibrant Chinese community to audiences back in China,” he added.
He highlighted the importance of preserving cultural heritage across generations, wishing for solidarity, cultural vitality and the continued transmission of traditions, while also extending warm hopes for the enduring strength of Malaysia-China friendship.
Also present at the event were People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu Deputy Consul General Xue Xiaoning, Malaysia Jiangmen Association President Datuk Susan Wong, Malaysia-China Friendship Association Sabah President Dr Oh Ee Sun JP, Jiangmen Radio and Television Event Planning Centre Director Su Shufen, National Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Inheritor of Choy Li Fut Kung Fu Chen Zhongjie and Kian Kok Middle School Board Chairman Datuk Clement Yeh.
