After nearly six years of travelling from bustling cities to quiet villages across all 14 states and territories, outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing says the country has become his second home.
Speaking at a reception in Kuala Lumpur to mark his farewell and the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Ouyang said Malaysia was where he had lived and worked the longest outside China.
“No matter where the future takes me, a piece of my heart will always remain in Malaysia.”
Ouyang, who has served as China’s 16th ambassador here for five years and 10 months, said when asked his impression of the country, he would describe it as a place of beautiful landscapes, beautiful people and, above all, beautiful hearts.
“This is not diplomatic courtesy; it is my genuine, deep-seated feeling.”
Ouyang said he has been moved by the warmth of the people he met, both in formal meetings with officials and in casual conversations with ordinary Malaysians in parks, on the streets and at local eateries.
He also spoke fondly of Malaysian durian, saying fresh Musang King could now reach Chinese dining tables within 48 hours of being harvested.
“To me, this means I can still enjoy fresh Malaysian durian even when I am back in China.”
Ouyang said people-to-people ties had grown during his tenure, helped by the mutual visa-free arrangement between the two countries.
According to figures he cited, Malaysia recorded 4.66 million Chinese tourist arrivals in 2025, while China received nearly 2.36 million Malaysian visitors.
He said Malaysia welcomed 3.13 million Chinese tourists in the first half of this year, a 15% year-on-year increase, with 652 flights connecting the two countries weekly.
He also said the number of Chinese students enrolled in Malaysia has grown over the years, from 3,820 to more than 73,000.
Recalling the Covid-19 pandemic, Ouyang said Malaysians from all sectors sent medical supplies to China during the early outbreak, while China delivered over 40 million vaccine doses when Malaysia faced severe waves of infections.
On bilateral trade, he said it rose from US$131.16bil (RM553bil) in 2020 to nearly US$200bil (RM843bil) in 2025.
Citing Malaysian official data, he said China’s cumulative investment in Malaysia reached US$24.5bil (RM103bil), creating more than 107,000 jobs.
He said the East Coast Rail Link was more than 95% complete and on track to be finished by the end of this year.
He hoped that China-Malaysia relations would achieve even greater success in years to come.
Present at the reception were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and DAP veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang.
