Mr. Lim Gait Tong, President of Penang Lim Si Teong How Tong,

Mr. Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, Representative of the Chief Minister of Penang and State Legislative Assemblyman,

Madam Lim Siew Khim, Member of Penang State Legislative Assembly,

Directors and clan members,

Distinguished guests and friends,

Good evening! I am very glad to attend the event tonight and join the Lim clan members to witness the swearing-in of new directors of Penang Lim Si Teong How Tong. First of all, on behalf of the Consulate General of China in Penang, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to Mr. Lim Gait Tong who has been re-elected as the president, and all the newly elected directors!

As a Chinese saying goes, a tree that towers into the sky must have its roots and a river that embraces the mountain must have its headwater. Lim is an ancient surname of China and the great ancestor of the Lim family is Bigan. For thousands of years, the forefathers of the Lim family have always been laboring in the Central Plains for the reproduction of the family. With the changes of the times, they have gradually migrated to South China and even some places in Southeast Asia for further development. Today, the Lim family has thrived like a mighty tree and its clan members are all over the world now. Lim is also a popular surname in Penang and even in Malaysia. In the old days, the sea-faring immigrants of the Lim family ancestors overcame many challenges to settle down in Nanyang (Southeast Asia). They worked hard for pioneering and strove constantly for self-improvement on the land of Penang to make positive contributions to the local economic and social development with their dedication and ingenuity. A large number of prominent clansmen of the Lim family have emerged, leaving a splendid chapter in the history of Penang’s development. As an important platform to recount the magnificent achievements of the forefathers of Lim family and unite the clan members, Penang Lim Si Teong How Tong and Persekutuan Persatuan Keturunan Lim Pulau Pinang have been always following the leadership of all the presidents to firmly remain true to the founding mission of Penang Lim Si Teong How Tong, promote the spirit of the Lim clan, work in unity and solidarity, promote friendly relations among the clan members, and continue to forge ahead actively. Many useful work have been done and a lot of fruitful results have been achieved in the areas of promoting the development of Penang and Malaysia, inheriting Chinese culture, supporting the economic development of the country of origin of the clan members, and enhancing China-Malaysia friendship.

Mr. Lim Gait Tong is a famous overseas Chinese leader in Malaysia, and is  also an outstanding leader in business, culture and philanthropy. Over the years, Mr. Lim Gait Tong has spared no effort and made outstanding contributions in uniting the Lim clan members and the Chinese community, promoting the development of Chinese education, and improving social welfare. At the same time, Mr. Lim Gait Tong always remembers his origin and treasures his family roots, and never forgets his ancestral home. He has been long committed to encouraging the overseas Chinese communities to strengthen exchanges among themselves, uniting overseas Chinese, promoting Chinese culture, supporting the development of the country of origin, and actively contributing in the promotion of China-Malaysia friendship and China-ASEAN cooperation, which I greatly appreciate.

This year, facing a complicated and challenging international situation, China has taken well-coordinated steps to respond to COVID-19 and pursue economic and social development. Putting the people and their lives first, China has protected people’s lives and health and ensured overall stable performance in economic and social development to the maximum extent possible. China optimizes COVID-19 prevention and control measures according to the development of COVID-19 pandemic conditions. These measures have been proven to be effective. Thanks to China’s science-based, precise, and effective epidemic prevention and control measures, China minimized the pandemic’s impact on the national economic and social development. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China’s major economic indicators demonstrated an improving landscape in May, and China’s economy has shown momentum of recovery. China’s foreign trade went up 8.3 percent and FDI expanded 17.3 percent year-on-year in the period from January to May. Effective pandemic containment is the foundation for socioeconomic development. It enables a favorable business environment. China is fully confident to meet the set targets of ensuring effective COVID control, stable economic performance,  and safe and secure development.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia 48 years ago, the bilateral relations between both countries have continued to develop steadily and soundly, the exchanges and cooperation in various fields have achieved fruitful results. In 2021, China-Malaysia bilateral trade hit a record high, rising 34.5 percent to 176.8 billion U.S. dollars, with China being Malaysia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. China and Malaysia have supported each other and overcome difficulties together, the traditional friendship emerged still stronger from the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. All the people at this ceremony have participated in, witnessed and contributed to the China-Malaysia friendship. I hope that you will continue to play the active role of “civilian ambassadors” to promote economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two sides, as well as promoting people-to-people bonds. You are welcome to visit China after the pandemic situation improves, enjoy the local dialect and local rhymes, experience the atmosphere of your ancestral hometown, take a look at the green mountains and clear waters, taste the delicious cuisines of your ancestral hometown, and discover the new development and changes in China. The Consulate General of China in Penang is willing to work with everyone and people from all walks of life in the consular district to make new contributions to the promotion of friendship between China and Malaysia at the national and local level. 

Last but not least, I sincerely wish the work of Penang Lim Si Teong How Tong and Persekutuan Persatuan Keturunan Lim Pulau Pinang a great success! I wish all council members, clan members, guests, and friends good health, success in your work, and all the best!

Thank you!