On September 29, 2022, Chinese Consulate General in Penang held an online reception to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Penang Mdm. Zhang Li and Chief Minister of Penang Mr. Chow Kon Yeow attended the reception and delivered speeches. Around 150 people from various circles of society, including main government officials from the four states in Northern Malaysia, members of the Parliament and State Legislative Assembly, representatives of political parties, Consuls and Honorary Consuls in Penang, overseas Chinese in the consular district, Chinese enterprises, overseas Chinese student representatives, etc. attended the event online.

Acting Consul General Mdm. Zhang Li delivered an enthusiastic speech, expressing festive greetings to overseas Chinese and Chinese nationals abroad, Chinese enterprises, and overseas Chinese students in the northern region of Malaysia, and heartfelt appreciation to the friends from all walks of life who keep close attention and render valuable support to the China-Malaysia friendship and local cooperation between the two countries!

Acting Consul General Mdm. Zhang Li reviewed the 73 years of glorious history and great achievements of the great motherland. She said that the Chinese people today focus their ingenuity and energy on the same goal, and are making confident strides on the path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China’s development and progress are inseparable from the joint efforts of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation including the vast number of returned overseas Chinese or their relatives and overseas Chinese.

Acting Consul General Mdm. Zhang Li said that since the beginning of this year, the Chinese government has effectively coordinated epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development. The COVID-19 pandemic has been effectively controlled, the national economy has registered a stable recovery, people’s livelihood has been protected sufficiently, and the momentum of high-quality development was sustained. China is striding forward on the path of development and happiness. China’s development is the enhancement of forces making for world peace, and China’s prosperity and progress will bring more development opportunities to and inject greater impetus in the development of all the countries in the world.

Acting Consul General Mdm. Zhang Li quoted a Malay proverb, bagai aur bergantung ke tebing，bagai tebing bergantung ke aur (We can’t tell whether the bamboo depends on riverbank or the riverbank depends on bamboo), to describe China and Malaysia as a community with a shared future and share a common stake. She believes that China and Malaysia share geographical proximity, cultural affinity, profound friendship between the two peoples, and millennia-long friendship, and the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China, and the Northern Malaysia region have broad prospects and huge potential for cooperation in various fields. The future of the friendship between China and Malaysia will definitely be brighter!

Chief Minister of Penang Mr. Chow Kon Yeow said in his speech that China has been the second largest economy in the world for 12 consecutive years, and has achieved a miracle of economic development. This is a result of China’s daring reforms in the past, and also due to the farsightedness of the Chinese leadership. Despite China’s enhanced global status and influence, it has sought to only strengthen bilateral ties with countries around the world, and many of them have benefited from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Penang State Government is willing to work closely with the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Penang for the promotion and continued development of bilateral relations to benefit the peoples of the two countries.

A short film for the celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was played during the reception, introducing China’s development achievements. The whole reception was broadcasted live on the official Facebook page of Chinese Consulate General in Penang. Mainstream media in the consular district were invited to participate in and report the reception online.