Cultural diplomacy: (From left) HWUM deputy provost Prof Lai Yin Ling sharing a light moment with Zhao, Prof Mushtak and Tang during the event.
In a recent Mid-Autumn Festival celebration that mixed tradition with diplomacy, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) welcomed Chinese diplomats and hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds for an evening of cultural exchange, unity, and shared heritage.
Held at the varsity’s Putrajaya campus by its Student Association, Chinese Students and Scholars Association, and Chinese Cultural Society, the event served as a platform for strengthening diplomatic and educational ties between Malaysia and China.
Among those present were Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia Counsellor Zhao Chang Tao, and its Secretary of Education Tang Jing; and Heriot-Watt University principal and vice-chancellor Prof Richard A. Williams.
Emphasising HWUM’s commitment to global education, its provost and chief executive officer Prof Mushtak Al-Atabi said cultural celebration is an essential part of a global education.
“Events like the Mid-Autumn Festival not only honour tradition but also help build bridges across cultures.
“When our students come together to celebrate each other’s heritage, they cultivate empathy, respect, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a global citizen,” he said.
The evening featured traditional performances, hands-on lantern crafting and mooncake tasting, serving as a meaningful connection between university leadership, the student body, and diplomatic representatives, a press release dated Sept 25 read.
