On December 7, 2021, Chinese Consul General in Penang Mr. Lu Shiwei attended the International Seminar on Promoting Heilongjiang Higher Institutions and delivered a speech. Chief Minister of Penang Mr. Chow Kon Yeow delivered a speech via video at the event. More than 180 people including Mr. Li Shengbin，Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Government of Heilongjiang Province, Mr. Jiang Guangfu，First Level Inspector of Department of Education, Heilongjiang Province, Mr. Guo Hongwei, President of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, representatives of 13 higher institutions in Heilongjiang, and the representatives from nearly 30 Chinese secondary schools, and media in the four northern states of Malaysia attended the event.

Consul General Mr. Lu Shiwei stated that China and Malaysia enjoy a long history of relationship. Educational exchanges are an important part of bilateral relations, and have made important contributions to the promotion of cultural exchanges and China-Malaysia friendship as well as local cooperation. Malaysia is the country outside of China with the most complete and highest quality Chinese education system. Malaysia’s good Chinese education foundation and international level provide favorable conditions for China-Malaysia educational exchanges. Dr. Wu Lien-teh, a pioneer of modern medicine in China who was born in Penang, had returned to China to fight the plague in northeastern China, and also founded an institution in Harbin specialized in medical science. He had left behind a great story about China-Malaysia friendship.

Consul General Mr. Lu Shiwei said that 2021 is a year of milestone significance for China. We celebrated the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and we are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects. China attaches great importance to the development of education, and promotes the building of a strong education nation. China’s new development will bring new opportunities for the development of countries around the world including Malaysia, and will also bring new opportunities for China-Malaysia educational exchanges and cooperation. It is hoped that the schools from the consular district would seize this rare opportunity to have a deeper understanding of the universities based in Heilongjiang, and lay a foundation for the future specific exchanges and cooperation. The Chinese Consulate General in Penang will continue to support and promote the educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Malaysia, and is willing to work together with friends from all walks of life including the participating schools, to continuously promote exchanges and cooperation between Heilongjiang Province and the four states of Northern Malaysia to bear more fruitful results.

Mr. Chow Kon Yeow said that international educational cooperation helps in promoting the friendship between the localities of Malaysia and China, and even between the two countries. It can help to establish close ties between the two places by sending students to study in each other’s education institutions or carrying out student exchanging activities. Universities in Heilongjiang Province have advantageous majors in water conservancy, construction, and related industries which are closely related to Penang State. It is anticipated that the two governments will have further in-depth cooperation in related fields.

Mr. Li Shengbin said that the purpose of the event is to introduce the universities in Heilongjiang Province to the vast number of young Malaysian students of Chinese ethnicity, strengthen educational exchanges between China and Malaysia, and enhance the friendship between the two peoples. Mr. Jiang Guangfu said that Heilongjiang Province attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation in education, strengthens cooperation with ASEAN countries, and is gradually becoming an important window for education opening-up to Asia and a new highland for international exchanges and cooperation.

This event was hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Government of Heilongjiang Province and Department of Education, Heilongjiang Province, co-hosted by the Consulate General of China in Penang, and organized by Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine. The 13 universities in Heilongjiang Province that attended the event were Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Northeast Forestry University, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang University, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Jiamusi University, Qiqihar University, Mudanjiang Normal University, and Heihe University. The participating parties exchanged views on specific issues such as enrolment policies and scholarships. The atmosphere of the event was warm, and positive results were achieved.