Promoting Belt & Road initiative

“Malaysia-China International Technology and Cultural Exchange Grand Ceremony” was successfully held at Grand Ion Delemen Hotel, Genting Highlands on 27 January 2019. The ceremony was directed by China Association For promoting Children’s Culture and Art（中华儿童文化艺术促进会）and China Association for Science and Technology (Suzhou) Overseas Talents Offshore Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance （中国科协（苏州）海外人才离岸创新创业联盟）. It was jointly hosted by Suzhou Industry-University-Research Collaborative Innovation Alliance（苏州产学研协同创新联盟）and Suzhou Youth Off-Campus Education Guidance Centre （苏州青少年校外教育指导中心）and organised by Suzhou ZhongZhi Yunji Investment Consulting Co., Ltd （苏州众智云集创业投资咨询有限公司）and SeaTUS Tech Services Sdn Bhd. Just a day before the ceremony took place, TusSpace made a visit to UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 26 January 2019.

Front row, from left: Dr Chong, Gao, Chen, Xu Xian, Prof Ewe, Jason Yu, Song, Chen Xiang and Dr Lai with the participants

The delegates who visited Sungai Long Campus were Suzhou Youth Off-Campus Education Guidance Centre Chairman Xu Xian, SeaTUS Tech Services Sdn Bhd Managing Director Jason Yu Haitao, Suzhou Broadcasting and Television Youth Training Center Operations Director Chen Xiang, Famous Singer （传奇歌手） Gao Yifeng, The Expert of Kunqu （昆曲达人） Song Suxia and The National level Artist （国家一级美术师）Chen Maozhang.

Welcoming the delegates on behalf of UTAR were its Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) Dean-cum-Mencius Institute Director Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei, Division of Community and International Networking (DCInterNet) Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn and Deputy Director Dr Chen, I-Chi.

Also present were Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD) Director-cum-Belt and Road Strategic Research Centre Chairperson Prof Dr Cheng Ming Yu, Faculty of Engineering and Science Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Prof Ts Dr Lim Eng Hock,ICS Dr Ng Bung Chen, participants from China and UTAR students.

Prof Ewe

Prof Ewe welcomed the delegates and participants and said, “I am very pleased to be here for the unveiling ceremony of Suzhou Youth Off-Campus Education Guidance Centre in Malaysia. With the establishment of the guidance centre, I hope it will promote the in-depth development of Science and Technology exchanges between Malaysia and China and build a communication platform for the young generation in Suzhou and Malaysia to learn from each other. Simultaneously, I also hope that it will promote the development of educational exchanges and academic research between both countries and further deepen the substantive exchanges and cooperation in the field of higher education. Most importantly, I hope through this ceremony, people will have a better understanding of our beautiful Malaysia.”

Jason Yu

Jason Yu, on the other hand, shared with the participants the intention of organising the event. Impressive with UTAR’s achievement, he said, “UTAR was established in the year 2002. With only a mere of 16 years, they managed to do well and they were ranked 99th in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2018.  This is my third time visiting UTAR. Although, their academic buildings and facilities are not so advanced but the cultural value I see, which is respect for the teachers, is indeed what many of the universities should learn. In response to the China government on the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, China has been continuously developing in Science and Technology and Culture in these two years. I hope that we can work closely together to enhance the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.”

The unveiling ceremony to introduce Malaysia-China Youth Culture and Arts Exchange Centre then took place. It was conducted by Prof Ewe and Xu Xian. 

Prof Ewe (left) and Xu Xian during the unveiling ceremony 

Prof Ewe (left) and Xu Xian exchanging souvenirs

 Prof Ewe (right) presenting a token of appreciation to the delegates

A souvenir exchange session between Prof Ewe and delegates took place. It was then followed by a group photo session before moving on to the Cultural talk and Interaction session by Gao, Song and Chen.         

Clockwise, from top left: Gao, Song and Chen sharing their success stories

Chen Xiang

During the cultural talk and interaction session, Gao, Song and Chen shared about their life stories; how they became successful after going through storm and rain. On top of that, they also motivated the participants and interacted with them through a Q&A session.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Suzhou Youth Off-Campus Education Guidance Centre took place during Malaysia-China International Technology & Cultural Exchange Grand Ceremony on 27 January 2019. Signing on behalf of UTAR was its President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and witnessed by Prof Ewe while Suzhou Youth Off-Campus Education Guidance Centre was represented by Xu Xian and witnessed by Jason Yu.

The MoU aimed to promote the communication and collaboration between Malaysia and China through technology innovation, education and culture integration leading to “Belt and Road” initiative and utilise respective resources and strengths to achieve win-win cooperation. Besides, the MoU also aimed to broaden the global view of youth in China and Malaysia, improve comprehensive quality development and bridge the collaboration in technology, education and culture between China and Malaysian youth.

Apart from that, the ceremony also saw presentation sessions and round table forum discussing how China and Malaysia can better cooperate in science and technology and culture. It also witnessed more than 10 splendid performances presented by artists and singers. On top of that, a painting consisting of mountains and water was drawn by Chen during the ceremony to be put to sale. The sum that is collected from the sale will be donated to UTAR. 

The painting drawn by Chen