Latest news with #Malaysia-China
The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia and China unite: Shared values strengthen bilateral ties
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite distinct national backgrounds, Malaysia and China possess shared values that consistently reinforce their robust bilateral relationship, says Prime Minister's political secretary Chan Ming Kai Chan said both nations promote peaceful cooperation, prioritising mutual respect and win-win outcomes. 'These values form the foundation for meaningful partnerships and are essential for constructing a shared future for humanity. Due to this shared outlook, Malaysia-China cooperation is crucial and holds significant potential for further development growth,' he said during the speech at Asean-China Economic Forum and the launch of the Third China International Supply Chain Expo Roadshow on Monday (May 26). He stated that while each country may pursue its own development model, all face intense and often harsh market competition. Describing the situation as 'involution,' Chan remarked that the region must avoid unhealthy rivalries. 'While the United States has shown its way of responding, Asean and China must chart a different course—one that continues to pursue mutual benefit, even in challenging times,' he said. Chan also emphasised the significance of Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan's appointment as chairman of the Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC), noting that Sunday's event was the first independently hosted by MCBC under its new leadership. 'This event reflects our future direction and commitment. The Prime Minister's Office will continue to support and monitor the council to ensure it fulfils its role effectively in driving Malaysia-China economic cooperation,' he said. Meanwhile, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) president Ren Hongbin emphasised the significance China places on Asean. He noted that President Xi Jinping's first overseas visit this year was to the region, as was the first official outbound mission by China's business community. 'This highlights the strategic importance of Asean to China. We are committed to working with Asean's business sectors to deepen cooperation, implement trade pacts such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and advance our comprehensive strategic partnership,' he said. Ren added that amid rising global uncertainty and instability, China and Asean—two major developing economies—remain steadfast in supporting economic globalisation and multilateralism.
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Straits Times
Scholars from China flock to Malaysia
(From left) Ms Zhang, Ms Xing and Ms He exploring George Town during their free time. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK GEORGE TOWN, Penang - Attracted by affordability, academic freedom and cultural familiarity, lecturers and researchers from China are drawn to Malaysia to further their scholarly pursuits. Over 2,300 of them are working on their PhD research at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang. They now make up the majority of foreign nationalities in USM's student population, along with over 3,700 others from China pursuing their master's and bachelor's degrees at the education institution, a sign that pursuing tertiary studies in Malaysia has become a popular option. While the PhD candidates expressed satisfaction at being able to work on their research topics in Malaysia, they lamented how their tertiary degrees are 'valued less' than those from Singapore or Hong Kong. Ms Lola He Ying Lei, 40, said: 'In some parts of China, a PhD from Malaysia is seen as less prestigious than a mid-tier Chinese university. Some Chinese universities even reject the PhDs from South-East Asian universities of those applying for teaching jobs. 'Some in China view Singapore's qualification as higher than other countries in the region. They think Malaysia is an underdeveloped country,' she said. However, Ms He noted that this misconception tends to fade rapidly for those who visit Malaysia. She is researching constructive journalism comparisons between China and Malaysia in news related to higher education institutions and noted that academic freedom in Malaysia was considerably greater. 'In sensitive disciplines like journalism, PhD candidates in China face strict ideological constraints and we must align our research with the supervisor's direction. 'But at USM, our supervisors encourage us to explore and let our scholarly research evolve,' said the mother of two from Harbin in north-east China, 400km from the Russian border. Ms He expressed hope that the strengthening of Malaysia-China relations, along with the rising number of tourists and students from China, would lead to a shift in the perception of Malaysia within her home country. Ms Sharon Zhang Jing Lun, 32, is also revelling in her USM experience, pointing out that research freedom was often restrictive in China. 'At USM, the lecturers lend supportive supervision and flexible research environments that contrast with the rigid system in our country,' she said. As a journalism lecturer in China, she gave up trying to secure a PhD candidacy in her homeland after being told to wait two or three years to even be considered. She said in USM, the process was straightforward, and upon arriving, she found Malaysia to be culturally similar and felt right at home. Ms Zhang, from Shanxi province, is doing a comparative study on China and Malaysia's media efforts in the control and prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Xing Zhang, 33, an art expert from Shanxi, who is here to research the development and application of Pingyao lacquerware for tourist souvenir models, found affordability to be a key factor in choosing USM. 'The cost of studying is comparable to that in China; however, the living expenses in Malaysia are more financially manageable,' she said. Ms Xing described acceptance as a PhD candidate in China to be 'extremely competitive' and professors there often took only one or two students per year. The three individuals noted that socially, when interacting with Malaysia's ethnic Chinese community, they perceive a distinct difference from the Chinese in China, particularly in terms of Mandarin accent and intonation. 'I can understand their Mandarin, but if I talk too fast, the Malaysian Chinese will not understand me,' Ms Xing said. USM disclosed that there are 2,302 PhD candidates from China on campus currently, and their main research areas are management, education, architecture and tourism, arts and design, and language and translation. Another 2,469 are pursuing master's degrees in the management, arts, communication and language fields. A further 1,294 undergraduates from China are pursuing bachelor's degrees in management, computer science, applied statistics and English for professionals at USM. USM's Associate Professor Dr Nik Norma Nik Hasan from the School of Communication observed that the influx of China's students to Malaysia began after 2020. 'Between 2016 and 2019, we would see only two to three Chinese pursuing master's and PhD studies,' she said, adding that on campus now, the numbers from China surpassed all other foreign nationalities. Assoc Prof Nik Norma said she had several conversations with them about choosing Malaysia, and the most interesting response was that the students trusted their agents in China to advise them on which countries to choose for specific degrees. 'Their agents are very influential,' she added. USM vice-chancellor Professor Abdul Rahman Mohamed said USM's global recognition and rankings were a major appeal. He said USM was ranked 18th in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings (1st in Malaysia and South-east Asia) and 146th in QS World University Rankings. 'USM is the only Malaysian university holding the Accelerated Programme for Excellence title and one of the five research- intensive universities in the country,' he said. Prof Abdul Rahman said almost all courses at USM are taught in English, cutting down language barriers for China's students. 'Tuition fees and living costs are significantly lower than in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. 'Our multicultural nation makes it easy for China's students to feel at home,' he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Chinese scholars flock to Malaysia
Affordable education and cultural ties fuel academic migration GEORGE TOWN: Attracted by affordability, academic freedom and cultural familiarity, lecturers and researchers from China are drawn to Malaysia to further their scholarly pursuits. Over 2,300 of them are working on their PhD research at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). They now make up the majority of foreign nationalities in USM's student population, along with over 3,700 others from China pursuing their master's and bachelor's degrees at USM, a sign that pursuing tertiary studies in Malaysia has become a popular option. While the PhD candidates expressed satisfaction at being able to work on their research topics in Malaysia, they lamented how their tertiary degrees are 'valued less' than those from Singapore or Hong Kong. Lola He Ying Lei, 40, said: 'In some parts of China, a PhD from Malaysia is seen as less prestigious than a mid-tier Chinese university. Some Chinese universities even reject the PhDs from South-East Asian universities of those applying for teaching jobs. 'Some in China view Singapore's qualification as higher than other countries in the region. They think Malaysia is an underdeveloped country,' she said. However, He noted that this misconception tends to fade rapidly for those who visit Malaysia. She is researching constructive journalism comparisons between China and Malaysia in news related to higher education institutions and noted that academic freedom in Malaysia was considerably greater. 'In sensitive disciplines like journalism, PhD candidates in China face strict ideological constraints and we must align our research with the supervisor's direction. 'But at USM, our supervisors encourage us to explore and let our scholarly research evolve,' said the mother of two from Harbin in northeast China, 400km from the Russian border. He expressed hope that the strengthening of Malaysia-China relations, along with the rising number of tourists and students from China, would lead to a shift in the perception of Malaysia within her home country. Sharon Zhang Jing Lun, 32, is also revelling in her USM experience, pointing out that research freedom was often restrictive in China. 'At USM, the lecturers lend supportive supervision and flexible research environments that contrast with the rigid system in our country,' she said. As a journalism lecturer in China, she gave up trying to secure a PhD candidacy in her homeland after being told to wait two or three years to even be considered. She said in USM, the process was straightforward, and upon arriving, she found Malaysia to be culturally similar and felt right at home. Zhang, from Shanxi province, is doing a comparative study on China and Malaysia's media efforts in the control and prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic. Xing Zhang, 33, an art expert from Shanxi, who is here to research the development and application of Pingyao lacquerware for tourist souvenir models, found affordability to be a key factor in choosing USM. 'The cost of studying is comparable to that in China; however, the living expenses in Malaysia are more financially manageable,' she said. Xing described acceptance as a PhD candidate in China to be 'extremely competitive' and professors there often took only one or two students per year. The three individuals noted that socially, when interacting with Malaysia's ethnic Chinese community, they perceive a distinct difference from the Chinese in China, particularly in terms of Mandarin accent and intonation. 'I can understand their Mandarin, but if I talk too fast, the Malaysian Chinese will not understand me,' Xing said. USM disclosed that there are 2,302 PhD candidates from China on campus currently, and their main research areas are management, education, architecture and tourism, arts and design, and language and translation. Another 2,469 are pursuing master's degrees in the management, arts, communication and language fields. A further 1,294 undergraduates from China are pursuing bachelor's degrees in management, computer science, applied statistics and English for professionals at USM. USM's Assoc Prof Dr Nik Norma Nik Hasan from the School of Communication observed that the influx of China's students to Malaysia began after 2020. 'Between 2016 and 2019, we would see only two to three Chinese pursuing master's and PhD studies,' she said, adding that on campus now, the numbers from China surpassed all other foreign nationalities. Assoc Prof Norma said she had several conversations with them about choosing Malaysia, and the most interesting response was that the students trusted their agents in China to advise them on which countries to choose for specific degrees. 'Their agents are very influential,' she added. USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed said USM's global recognition and rankings were a major appeal. 'We are ranked 18th in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings (1st in Malaysia and South-East Asia) and 146th in QS World University Rankings. 'USM is the only Malaysian university holding the Accelerated Programme for Excellence title and one of the five research- intensive universities in the country,' he said. Prof Abdul Rahman said almost all courses at USM are taught in English, cutting down language barriers for China's students. 'Tuition fees and living costs are significantly lower than in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. 'Our multicultural nation makes it easy for China's students to feel at home,' he said.
Borneo Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Deputy Minister: Malaysia promotes high-value palm derivatives in global markets
Chan (third left) and others at a pre-council meeting ahead of the China (Chongqing)-Malaysia Industry Cooperation Dialogue. KUCHING (May 25): Malaysia is promoting high-value palm derivatives such as red palm oil, palm stearin and palm-based ice cream powder in the global markets, said Datuk Chan Foong Hin. The Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities said joint research and development (R&D) initiatives are underway with food companies in Sichuan and Chongqing, targeting applications in hotpot soup bases, spicy snacks and sustainable personal care products. 'As China pursues its vision of a shared future for mankind, Malaysia is proud to work alongside it—using palm oil as a bridge to promote regional green growth and sustainable development,' he said in a statement today. The statement was issued following the China (Chongqing)-Malaysia Industry Cooperation Dialogue, which was successfully held in Chongqing last Thursday, with a strong focus on expanding collaboration in palm oil trade, technological innovation and the development of sustainable supply chains. The dialogue was a highlight of the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT), reaffirming Chongqing's strategic role within the Malaysia-China green value chain. Over 40 representatives from leading enterprises in food processing, condiments, personal care and oil refining industries attended the event for targeted business matching and dialogue. In his keynote address, Chan emphasised the growing global momentum toward green development, highlighting palm oil's potential as a critical bridge for regional cooperation. According to him, Malaysia is eager to leverage its Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification—one of the world's highest sustainability standards—to strengthen institutional linkages with China in areas such as carbon labelling, biofuels and green materials. 'Together, we can build a supply network that is not only efficient and innovative but also environmentally responsible.' Chan noted the vast market potential in western China, with Chongqing acting as a central hub in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. He explained that this logistical advantage allows Malaysian palm oil to efficiently reach inland provinces such as Sichuan, Guizhou and Shaanxi via the Qinzhou Port-Chongqing route. Chan announced that Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co Ltd had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development of a strategic palm oil supply chain covering western China. In addition, Malaysia is collaborating with Chongqing Jiaotong University to develop palm oil-based polyurethane acrylate for anticorrosive coating—broadening the scope of palm-based chemicals in China's industrial sector, he said. The dialogue concluded with a high-level roundtable on 'The Future of China's Palm Oil Industry Amid Global Oils and Fats Trends', moderated by Zhou Shiyong, president of Beijing Heyirong Co Ltd, featuring robust discussion on trade trends, sustainability certification, technological innovation and policy frameworks. This successful industry dialogue not only strengthened Malaysia-China collaboration across the palm oil value chain but also injected fresh momentum into building a green, efficient and mutually beneficial regional supply network—marking a new chapter in bilateral economic cooperation, the statement added. Chan Foong Hin China high-value palm derivatives lead
Borneo Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Deputy Minister: Malaysia promotes high-value palm derivatives in global market
Chan (third left) and others at a pre-council meeting ahead of the China (Chongqing)-Malaysia Industry Cooperation Dialogue. KUCHING (May 25): Malaysia is promoting high-value palm derivatives such as red palm oil, palm stearin and palm-based ice cream powder in the global market, said Datuk Chan Foong Hin. The Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities said joint research and development (R&D) initiatives are underway with food companies in Sichuan and Chongqing, targeting applications in hotpot soup bases, spicy snacks and sustainable personal care products. 'As China pursues its vision of a shared future for mankind, Malaysia is proud to work alongside it—using palm oil as a bridge to promote regional green growth and sustainable development,' he said in a statement today. The statement was issued following the China (Chongqing)-Malaysia Industry Cooperation Dialogue, which was successfully held in Chongqing last Thursday, with a strong focus on expanding collaboration in palm oil trade, technological innovation and the development of sustainable supply chains. The dialogue was a highlight of the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT), reaffirming Chongqing's strategic role within the Malaysia-China green value chain. Over 40 representatives from leading enterprises in food processing, condiments, personal care and oil refining industries attended the event for targeted business matching and dialogue. In his keynote address, Chan emphasised the growing global momentum toward green development, highlighting palm oil's potential as a critical bridge for regional cooperation. According to him, Malaysia is eager to leverage its Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification—one of the world's highest sustainability standards—to strengthen institutional linkages with China in areas such as carbon labelling, biofuels and green materials. 'Together, we can build a supply network that is not only efficient and innovative but also environmentally responsible.' Chan noted the vast market potential in western China, with Chongqing acting as a central hub in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. He explained that this logistical advantage allows Malaysian palm oil to efficiently reach inland provinces such as Sichuan, Guizhou and Shaanxi via the Qinzhou Port-Chongqing route. Chan announced that Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co Ltd had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development of a strategic palm oil supply chain covering western China. In addition, Malaysia is collaborating with Chongqing Jiaotong University to develop palm oil-based polyurethane acrylate for anticorrosive coating—broadening the scope of palm-based chemicals in China's industrial sector, he said. The dialogue concluded with a high-level roundtable on 'The Future of China's Palm Oil Industry Amid Global Oils and Fats Trends', moderated by Zhou Shiyong, president of Beijing Heyirong Co Ltd, featuring robust discussion on trade trends, sustainability certification, technological innovation and policy frameworks. This successful industry dialogue not only strengthened Malaysia-China collaboration across the palm oil value chain but also injected fresh momentum into building a green, efficient and mutually beneficial regional supply network—marking a new chapter in bilateral economic cooperation, the statement added. Chan Foong Hin China high-value palm derivatives lead
