Malaysian Consul General in Kunming: Exchanges bring us closer to each other
"I came to Kunming in March 2019. When I first arrived in Yunnan, I immediately realized that this is a province characterized by fascinating natural landscapes, mild climate, rich history as well as diverse ways of life,” Faizal recalled with a smile.
Mr. Faizal Shani has been the Consul General of Malaysia in Kunming for the past 4 years.
As the Consul General of Malaysia in Kunming, Faizal Shani has not merely traveled across Yunnan over the past 4 years, but also witnessed the rapid development and tremendous changes of this land — whose name is translated into “South of the Clouds” literally — with every local resident.
Yunnan’s battle against absolute poverty was eventually won in the end of 2020, as 88 poverty-stricken counties across the province had all shaken of poverty. The first phase of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) took place successfully in Kunming in October, 2021. The event showcased Yunnan’s exceptional beauty of biodiversity to the entire world.
Faizal receives an interview by Yunnan Daily.
The opening of China-Laos Railway in December 2021, marked a further strengthened connectivity between China and the Mekong sub-region, and even the entire Southeast Asia. Moreover, Yunnan’s step to promote its exchanges and cooperation with the greater world has never halted, despite the difficulties brought by the COVID-19.
“All these examples above have impressed me deeply and given me new chances and perspectives to understand Yunnan and China,” said Faizal.
A statue of Zheng He stands in Malacca, Malaysia.
"Malaysia has always regarded China as one of its most important strategic partners worldwide", he emphasized. Zheng He, as China’s greatest mariner of all time and a Yunnan-born diplomat from the Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644 AD), visited Malaysia several times during his seven expeditionary voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and even East Africa.
For centuries, the stories and legends left by Zheng He have been celebrated as cultural legacies and a collective memory by the people from both Malaysia and Yunnan.
Launching ceremony of the Malaysia Pavilion during 2022 China International Travel Mart, Kunming.
In the last 4 years, Malaysia has been keen on deepening its communication and cooperation with Yunnan through various means and platforms. For instance, by involving itself in a number of Yunnan-based expositions, such as the China-South Asia Exposition and the South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair, the Consulate General of Malaysia in Kunming continues to play as a bridge between the companies from Malaysia and Yunnan.
In addition, the annual Malaysia-China (Yunnan) Higher Education Dialog as well as Malaysia Food and Cultural Festival have injected new vitalities into the academic and cultural exchanges between the two places since 2020.
It’s worth mentioning that the consulate recently invited a group of traditional dancers from Malaysia to visit Yunnan and carry on exchanges with local artists and university students in Kunming.
The Malaysia Pavilion sits inside the Kunming Dianchi International Convention Center.
“The Malaysia Pavilion was opened in Kunming in September 2022. This is a milestone in the exchange and communication between my country and Yunnan.” Faizal said that the establishment of this pavilion has become a brand new platform where Malaysia and Yunnan can enhance their ties through education, cultural, art and tourist events.
A number of activities have already been held since it was opened. “The pavilion not only aims at promoting Malaysian specialty products such as coffee, bird’s nest and durian. We also hope to support academic and language exchanges via this space,” Faizal explained.
“Last year, we organized a ceremony to handover books in Malay language to Yunnan University and Yunnan Minzu University on behalf of the Malaysian government, in hope of strengthening the Malaysia-Yunnan friendship.
Faizal delivers a welcome speech on the opening of 2023 Malaysia Food Cultural Festival in Kunming.
According to Faizal, there is a great space for Malaysia and Yunnan to further expand their exchanges and cooperation ahead. “Enterprises from Yunnan have accumulated a great deal of experience and knowledge in the fields like agriculture, food security, green energy, biopharming, biodiversity conservation and many more,” he stressed.
“Malaysia is located at the geographic center of Southeast Asia. As Yunnan accelerates its construction of China’s pivot of opening-up to South and Southeast Asia, Malaysia is ready to help more Yunnan enterprises and commodities go abroad and even go global.”
Faizal attends a forum in Yunnan.
“We would love to carry on and expand our exchanges with Yunnan at all levels and in all fields. I sincerely hope that our friendship will be further strengthened and the people of Malaysia and Yunnan can be closer to each other,” he concluded.
Writing and tran-editing by Wang Jingzhong; photographs by Zi Jianfei and Wang Jingzhong
