Amid the festive atmosphere of the Year of the Snake, the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association warmly welcomed Professor Wang Hongwei, President of Tianjin Conservatory of Music and renowned tenor, along with his delegation, on February 3, 2025 (the sixth day of the Lunar New Year) in Kuala Lumpur. Distinguished guests from various sectors gathered to celebrate the New Year, fostering friendships and jointly promoting China-Malaysia musical and cultural cooperation to new heights.
Image 1: Minister Counsellor Zheng Xuefang (right), President Wang Hongwei (center), and President Sun Jianwei (left) participate in a traditional lion dance ceremony.
At the banquet’s opening, President Sun Jianwei of the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association delivered a welcome speech, expressing his sincere gratitude to President Wang Hongwei and his delegation for their visit. He emphasized that the Association has long been committed to promoting economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia, and that music, as a universal art form, possesses an extraordinary power to inspire and unite people. He expressed his enthusiasm that this visit by Tianjin Conservatory of Music would inject new vitality into China-Malaysia musical cooperation and further strengthen cultural communication between the two nations.
Image 2: President Sun Jianwei of the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association delivers his speech.
Dr. P’ng Tean Hwa, Professor and Director of the Institute of Music at UCSI University, highlighted in his speech that the university remains committed to an open and collaborative approach, actively engaging in academic and artistic exchanges with internationally renowned institutions. He noted that this joint music exchange event with Tianjin Conservatory of Music would not only deepen ties between the two institutions but also create valuable learning opportunities for Malaysian music students, contributing to the vibrant development of local music education.
Image 3: Dr. P’ng Tean Hwa, Professor and Director of the Institute of Music at UCSI University, delivers his speech.
President Wang Hongwei of Tianjin Conservatory of Music introduced the conservatory as one of China’s leading music institutions, renowned for nurturing internationally acclaimed musical talents and achieving outstanding artistic and academic success. He personally led the delegation to Malaysia with the hope of leveraging music as a common language to enhance China-Malaysia cultural exchanges, foster mutual learning among musicians, and enable Malaysian audiences to appreciate the unique charm of Chinese music.
Image 4: President Wang Hongwei of Tianjin Conservatory of Music delivers his speech.
Minister Counsellor Zheng Xuefang of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia delivered a keynote address during the banquet. He warmly welcomed President Wang Hongwei and his delegation and expressed his appreciation for the meticulous arrangements by the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association. He noted that 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations and the “China-Malaysia Friendship Year,” during which both nations achieved remarkable cooperation in politics, trade, and culture, with bilateral trade volume reaching new heights and people-to-people exchanges becoming increasingly frequent. He emphasized that educational and cultural exchanges serve as the “spiritual bridge” of China-Malaysia relations, and that this music exchange event between Tianjin Conservatory of Music and UCSI University represents a significant step toward deepening artistic collaboration between the two countries. He expressed his hope that more universities from both nations would join hands in the future to compose a new chapter in cultural exchange.
Image 5: Minister Counsellor Zheng Xuefang of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia delivers his speech.
The banquet was co-hosted by Ding Peng, Executive President of the Malaysia-China Cultural and Arts Federation, and Huang Da, Executive Director of the Beijing Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Throughout the evening, guests engaged in open and insightful discussions in a relaxed and joyous atmosphere, focusing on music, arts, and cultural exchanges. The conversations reflected a shared confidence and enthusiasm for future collaborations. The banquet concluded successfully in a warm and festive ambiance.
The prestigious gathering was attended by distinguished guests, including:
- Liu Chaowei, Military Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia
- Zhao Changtao, Education Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia
- Ni Qingjiu, President of the China Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia
- Dato’ Tan Tian Meng, Honorary Advisor of the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association
- Mao Pengfei, Chief Correspondent of Xinhua News Agency’s Kuala Lumpur Bureau
- Dato’ Seri Chong Chin Fung, President of the Malaysia-China Performing Arts Industry Association
- Ding Lee Leong, Executive Director of Oriental Daily
- Beh Ching Chye, Chief Assistant Secretary of the Protocol Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
- Dato’ Seri Shi Wenbin, Chairman of Yu’an Global Charity Foundation
- Nick Chuah, Executive Director of Hwa Lian Group’s Haihua Travel Sdn. Bhd.
From the Malaysia Jiangsu Entrepreneurs Business Association, attendees included Executive Vice President Xia Sixiang, Vice President Wang Xingyao, Deputy Secretary-General Dai Zhihua, and member company representative Zhao Weijun.
Image 6: Guests gather for the traditional Lou Sang ceremony.
