[Yunnan · There is a friend called Youcheng] Yunnan Province and Sarawak, Malaysia——The Treasure Ship Sets Sail Again

Yunnan Provincial Foreign Friendship Association 2023-09-23 00:00 Published onYunnan

600 years ago, Zheng He, a Chinese navigator born in Yunnan, led the world's largest fleet at the time to sail into the sea, ushering in a new era in the history of world navigation. In the new era, the enduring friendship initiated by Zheng He continues to write a new chapter in international city-city cooperation. On August 25, 2014, Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, Zheng He's hometown, and Kuching South, Sarawak, Malaysia, established a sister-city relationship. On March 21, 2017, Yunnan Province and Sarawak, and Dali Prefecture and Kuching North, respectively, established sister-city relationships. Using the sister-city relationship as a platform, the two sides have continuously deepened and put into practice exchanges and cooperation in areas such as high-level visits, economy and trade, culture, education, and tourism.

Today, let us follow the footsteps of the mariner Zheng He to jointly look back on the inseparable bond between Yunnan Province and the State of Laos.

[Youcheng Business Card]

Sarawak, Malaysia —

Scenery of Sarawak, Malaysia

Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, known as the "Land of the Rhinoceros Hornbill", and its capital is the "Cat City" of Kuching. Sarawak has a population of about 2.9 million and an area of 124,495 square kilometers, accounting for 37.5% of the country's total area. Sarawak is rich in natural resources, serving as the largest pepper export area and palm oil production area in the country, as well as one of the world's largest tropical hardwood export areas.

Yunnan Province

Fuxian Lake, Yunnan Province

Yunnan is located in southwestern China, with a total area of 394,000 square kilometers and a total population of 47 million. It borders three countries: Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. With a long history and rich culture, as well as beautiful natural scenery, it is hailed as the "Kingdom of Plants," the "Kingdom of Animals," and the "World Garden," serving as China's radiation center facing South and Southeast Asia.

The Treasure Ship Sets Sail Again

"A beautiful shield, hanging diagonally across the equator." This is how Malaysian poet Wu An described the beauty, fertility, and abundance of talent in Sarawak. Six centuries ago, Zheng He, a navigator born in Yunnan, was entrusted with the special mission of "sharing the blessings of peace throughout the world." He undertook seven voyages to the West, covering a distance of over 100,000 miles, and visited Malaysia more than five times. Today, strolling through Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, one can still see the local people's reverence and affection for Zheng He everywhere. The statue of Zheng He in the "Malaysia-China Friendship Park" in Kuching, Sarawak.

Zheng He statue in "Malaysia-China Friendship Park", Kuching, Sarawak

In the palm-fringed heart of Kuching, a wide and bustling main road named "Zheng He Commander Road" stretches out. Named by the Sarawak State Government, this road commemorates the pioneer of Malaysia-China friendship. Strolling down Kuching's Sang Road, a 2.8-hectare park comes into view. This is the "Malaysia-China Friendship Park", completed in May 2006. The Zheng He statue standing tall within the park has become a symbol of the traditional friendship between Malaysia and China. Particularly eye-catching at the park's entrance is a Chinese archway inscribed with the characters "Jinbi" (Golden Splendor), which sees a continuous stream of citizens and friends coming to take photos. Built by Kunming City, Yunnan Province, this archway shines brightly in the sunlight, bearing witness to the eternal story of friendship between Zheng He's hometown, Yunnan Province, and Malaysia's Sarawak State.

"Malaysia-China Friendship Park" Archway in Kuching, Sarawak

Friendship Globe at "Malaysia-China Friendship Park" in Kuching, Sarawak

With 600 years of friendship continuing to this day, the establishment of the Friendship City of Hefei as a medium has created broader opportunities for Yunnan Province and Salween Prefecture to enhance mutual understanding, join hands in development, and achieve common prosperity. Leveraging important platforms such as the China-South Asia Expo and the China-South Asia Mayors' Forum, government officials and business leaders from both sides regularly gather. The Salween Prefecture delegation has made multiple visits to Kunming and Dali to promote investment, sharing opportunities and planning development together. While continuously expanding the scale of economic and trade investment between the two sides, the provinces and prefectures maintain dialogue and exchange in areas such as plateau-specific agriculture, food processing, agroforestry science and technology, research, development, and utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, smart cities, cross-border tourism, and sustainable development, learning from each other and advancing together on the path of development.

In June 2018, the Sarawak delegation participated in the 5th NBO.

In June 2019, Datuk Shen Guixian Sha, the Menteri Besar of Sarawak and Minister of Housing, attended the 2019 Business Forum and delivered a speech at the China-South Asia Mayors' Forum.

Under the framework of friendly cooperation, educational cooperation and people-to-people exchanges are advancing in tandem, breathing new life into the traditional friendship between the two provinces and states. In March 2017, Yunnan University and Universiti Teknologi MARA signed a memorandum of cooperation to carry out comprehensive inter-university cooperation, identifying biology, ethnology, and information and communication engineering as the main academic cooperation fields. In 2018, Kunming University of Science and Technology established the "China-Malaysia Green and Sustainable Development International Technology Transfer Center" at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia, actively conducting joint scientific research and international collaborative innovation. Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming Medical University, Yunnan College of Transportation and Technology, Yunnan College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and other universities fully leverage their respective advantages to engage in in-depth cooperation with counterpart universities in fields such as agricultural scientific research, medical education, and the automotive industry. They are carrying out various projects including academic seminars, Chinese language education, the establishment of overseas training bases, technical training, and faculty and student exchanges, thereby promoting the transformation of academic research achievements into a powerful driving force for mutual development.

In March 2017, Yunnan University and University of Hawaii planted a cedar tree to symbolize friendship.

In March 2017, Dan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Hamid, Chairman of the Sarawak State Library Board, visited the Yunnan Provincial Library to experience a 3D printer.

Youth are also an important driving force in continuing the friendship between the two provinces and states. Since 2017, Yunnan University and Salawik University have repeatedly conducted mutual exchange activities. Yunnan youth visited the friendly city, participated in classroom interactions, and worked with local teachers and students to renovate the university library. They went to grassroots communities to carry out volunteer services, visited rural schools and boarding families to experience the diverse and inclusive ethnic culture of Salawik, and even hiked through the Salawik rainforest to experience the local biodiversity. At the time of parting, the youth from both sides hugged tightly and bid a tearful farewell. The Yunnan youth performed an enthusiastic Miao dance, leaving their songs and smiles forever in the hearts of the Salawik youth.

In August 2017, teachers and students from Yunnan University interacted with children at a rural primary school in Xialuo Yuezhou.

In 2018, faculty and students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak painted with Chinese children in Kunming.

In March 2018, faculty and students from Sarawak University, Malaysia visited Yunnan for exchange.

In July 2018, students from Yunnan University participated in a classroom discussion at Salawati University.

In July 2018, young people from Yunnan University went to exchange at the University of Saskatchewan.

In July 2019, during the "Know the World, Understand China" activity, Yunnan youth went to Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia for exchange and study.

Only through mutual trust can a lasting friendship be forged. Following the footsteps of Zheng He along the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century, Yunnan Province and the State of Laos raise the sails of friendship and set sail once again towards a brighter future.

In July 2015, the Kunming Ethnic Song and Dance Theatre was invited to Kuching to participate in a city anniversary performance.

In November 2017, Kuching South Mayor Teng Changqing delivered a speech at the Kunming International Friendship City Tourism Cooperation Conference.

In February 2017, a delegation from the Industrial Development and Investment and Trade of Shailuo Prefecture visited Dali Prefecture.

[Further Reading]

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[2015]

In May, pharmaceutical enterprises from Sarawak visited the Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, reaching a consensus on the exchange and cooperation between the two parties. In June, the then-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sarawak State Library, Tan Sri Haji Mohd. Bago Larikun, attended the 3rd China-ASEAN Expo.

[2017]

In February, the delegation from Salween Prefecture visited Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming National High-tech Development Zone, and Dali Economic and Technological Development Zone for an inspection tour.

[2018]

In June, Yunnan Institute of Electromechanical Technology and the International Cultural Exchange Center of Malaysia signed a cooperation agreement to admit 10 international students from Malaysia annually. In October, Haiyuan College of Kunming Medical University and the International Islamic University Malaysia held the first academic seminar on medical education between the two institutions.

[2019]

In June, the delegation from Sarawak attended the 2019 South Asia-Southeast Asia National Trade and Investment Forum and the 2nd China-South Asia Cooperation Forum.

[2020]

In March, the province of Salween donated a batch of medical protective suits and medical gloves to Yunnan to support Yunnan in combating the COVID-19 epidemic. In May, Yunnan province donated a batch of medical surgical masks and N95 masks to the province of Salween.