To prosperity and good fortune: Anwar and Sun (third from right) tossing yee sang at the event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Joining them are (from left) Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Tiong and China’s Culture and Tourism Vice-Minister Gao Zheng. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The relationship between Malaysia and China goes beyond trade and investment; it also traverses through celebrating cultural diversity and civilisation, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the vision to respect cultural diversity and honour the true meaning of civilisation is equally important.
“I have emphasised this matter during my meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. I believe that this spirit should also be present as we celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year,” he said in his speech during the Chinese New Year global launch event at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday.
Anwar also said that the Chinese New Year celebration in the country is a manifestation of Malaysia’s acceptance and policy of inclusivity.
“It is held to make sure that every Malaysian has a place here and feels proud of this country,” he said.
“Appreciating other cultures might be alien to some of us but this phenomenon could be meaningful, not only to our survival but it also means our readiness to welcome our friends from overseas.”
He cited a quote from the Song Dynasty which he said beautifully captures the essence of the bilateral relationship with China.
“We have indeed chosen to move beyond all uncertainties to embrace a future of thriving partnerships and shared goals,” he said.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the celebration marks a significant milestone, with Malaysia being selected to host the global launch ceremony of the “Chinese New Year Celebration 2025”.
He said that not only has this become a global brand in celebrating traditional Chinese culture but also a pivotal platform for showcasing the allure of Chinese culture on the world stage.
“We are deeply honoured as this reflects the recognition of our multicultural society and offers an invaluable opportunity to present Malaysia’s cultural inclusivity and harmony to the world,” he said.Tiong further explained that Chinese New Year transcends being merely a traditional festival for the Chinese people; it embodies profound meanings of reunion, hope and joy.
“Through the Chinese New Year celebrations, these universal emotions transcend cultural boundaries, forging a closer connection between Chinese culture and the global community.
“With Unesco’s formal inscription of ‘Chinese New Year’ on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the global importance of cultural preservation has been further underscored, symbolising the robust cooperation between Malaysia and China in cultural exchange and protection,” he added.
China’s Culture and Tourism Minister Sun Yeli said culture and tourism have always been key driving forces in the development of China-Malaysia relations.
“The successful hosting of the China-Malaysia Year of Culture and Tourism, alongside the increasingly frequent exchanges between our peoples, demonstrates the vast prospects and immense potential for cultural exchange and tourism cooperation between China and Malaysia,” he said.
Sun expressed hope that China and Malaysia can seize this event as an opportunity to deepen people-to-people connections, fostering broader and closer relationships, bringing the people of China and Malaysia ever closer and injecting more cultural vitality into the China-Malaysia community with a shared future.