KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, December 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A report from Shandian News.
On the afternoon of December 5, the China-Malaysia Spring Festival Gala “Enduring Like Water, Together for the New Year” was officially launched in Malaysia. The event was led by the Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. It was organized by the Information Office of the Shandong Provincial People’s Government, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shandong Provincial People’s Government, Shandong Radio and Television Station and the Shandong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. It was carried out by Shandong TV and the Shandong International Communication Center, with the joint organization of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce and the Malaysia-Shandong Chamber of Commerce.
The External Promotion Office, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, relevant departments of the Malaysian government, the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, alliance chambers of commerce of the two countries, media representatives of China-funded media in Malaysia and local residents gathered. Bridging cultures and celebrating the festive atmosphere, they shared the joy of the Lunar New Year and reaffirmed the deep friendship between China and Malaysia, described as “frequent exchanges, as close as family.”
The event began with the “Lion Dance” performance by the lion dance troupe of the High Pole of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Malaysia. The majestic leaps of the lions and the powerful beating of drums instantly ignited the atmosphere. The twenty-four festive drums, with their vigorous and passionate rhythms, showcased the unique charm of Malaysia’s intangible cultural heritage and played the prelude to the fusion of the folk traditions of the two nations. Li Zhuang, Deputy Director General of the External Promotion Office, Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Zheng Xuefang, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia; and Dato’ Mohd Yusri, Deputy Secretary-General of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, delivered speeches, together envisioning a bright future for China-Malaysia relations in the new “Golden 50 Years”.
This event marks the start of overseas segment recordings for the Shandong Spring Festival Gala. In his speech, Li Zhuang, deputy director general of the External Promotion Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the friendship between China and Malaysia is “as enduring as flowing water.” Organized by Shandong, the homeland of Confucius and Mencius, this event will showcase intangible cultural heritage and artistic performances. It aims to transform the festive feelings of reunions and blessings into sincere cultural resonance, allowing China-Malaysia friendship to flourish like red lanterns that shine brighter.
Minister-Counsellor Zheng Xuefang interpreted the cultural essence of the Spring Festival with the themes of “hope, harmony, happiness and family.” He noted that as friendly neighbors in the community with a shared future for mankind, China and Malaysia are jointly moving forward toward a higher-level strategic community with a shared destiny. Coinciding with the upcoming Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, the auspicious symbolism of the “horse” resonates with Malaysia’s national identity. He expressed hope that the two countries will deepen strategic communication with the momentum of “taking the lead”, advance practical cooperation with the determination to “achieve instant success”, and jointly promote regional prosperity through the concerted effort of “ten thousand galloping horses”. He also extended a special invitation to Malaysian friends to visit Shandong and experience Qilu’s cultural heritage and hospitality.
Dato’ Mohd Yusri, Deputy Secretary-General of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, delivered an enthusiastic speech. He praised the event for its rich and diverse programs, which fully embody the spirit of harmony and cultural sharing, and said Chinese and Malaysian artists taking the stage together create more opportunities for multicultural and artistic cooperation between the two countries. He said culture, like water, can connect communities, bridge differences and inspire new possibilities. Through their joint efforts, China and Malaysia can continue to build a future of mutual prosperity and deepen their friendship.
The artistic performances were spectacular and harmonious. “Flourishing Age” by the Universiti Putra Malaysia Chinese Orchestra enveloped the audience in the beauty of traditional Chinese instruments; “Zapin Welcomes Spring” by Malaysian dance troupe Zapin highlighted the charm of local culture with graceful movements; the shoulder ballet “Dreams of Chang’an” by the Xi’an Soldier Acrobatic Troupe vividly showed the essence of Chinese acrobatic art with breathtaking skill; Henan Opera “The Monkey King”, directed by “Monkey King of the Central Plains” Sun Jingpeng, showed the unique charm of Chinese opera with agile movements; and Dr. Wang Ping, who holds a doctorate in music from UCSI University, performed the classic folk song “Jasmine Flower”, whose melody and lingering notes evoke emotional resonance among the people of the two countries. The “Goddess of National Style” Shen Feifei made a stunning appearance with her performance “Li Qingzhao”, delicately displaying the poetic charm of Li Qingzhao’s hometown and the elegance of Jinan, the “City of Springs”. During the event, Malaysian internet influencer Qian Qian Long, with over 16 million followers, interacted on stage as a “China-Malaysia Spring Festival Ambassador”, sharing her experiences of Chinese culture and building bridges for youth exchanges between the two countries.
At the launching ceremony, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, the Malaysian government, chambers of commerce and media of the two countries took the stage to illuminate the launching platform of the “Friendship Ship”. This gesture symbolizes China-Malaysia friendship sailing through the waves towards a better future and bringing the event to its climax. Meanwhile, the Shandong International Communication Center simultaneously launched the Malaysia Internet celebrity audition campaign “I want to participate in the Spring Festival Gala”, aiming to discover and cooperate with local influencers and cultural envoys in distinct fields. With diverse local perspectives, it seeks to jointly tell the stories of the two countries and deepen dialogue and integration between people.
The event ended with all the artists and citizens on site jointly performing “Love Each Other”, known as the “provincial song” of Shandong. Ding Kunnian, chief director of the Shandong Spring Festival Gala, said this event would not only bring a Spring Festival celebration featuring profound cultural heritage and contemporary charm to the people of China and Malaysia, but also, with the Spring Festival as a link, it would surely contribute to Shandong’s strength to deepen mutual learning between the two civilizations and build a high-level China-Malaysia strategic community with a shared future.
It is reported that before the Spring Festival, Shandong Radio and Television Station will hold various activities in Malaysia, including the China-Malaysia intangible cultural heritage exchange exhibition “Everyone in their Beauty”, “Beauty in Harmony” art performances and flash mobs featuring artists from both countries. These initiatives aim to create a grand cultural celebration of the Spring Festival for people from both countries to rejoice and celebrate together.
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SOURCE Shandian News
