A significant milestone in educational and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia was marked as Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing a senior visiting scholar chair of Malay studies at BFSU. 

The signing ceremony took place at the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) on Aug 9. It was witnessed by officials from the Malaysian government, USM and BFSU, as well as leaders from more than 20 public universities and three government-affiliated universities in Malaysia.

Abdul Rahman Mohamed, vice-chancellor of USM, and Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, sign the memorandum of understanding on establishing a senior visiting scholar chair of Malay studies at BFSU. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Officials pose for a group photo at the signing ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Azlinda Azman, director-general of MOHE’s Department of Higher Education, emphasized the longstanding commitment of the Malaysian government to strengthening bilateral relations with China.

Azman highlighted the establishment of the Centre for China-Malay Studies at BFSU in 1997 and China’s only senior visiting scholar chair of Malay studies at the university in 2007, both initiatives aimed at fostering deeper academic ties. 

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, said the director-general, adding that the re-launch of this program at this juncture offers a platform to enhance high-level cooperation between the two nations. 

Abdul Rahman Mohamed, vice-chancellor of USM, recalled the extensive efforts made by the university in promoting the internationalization of the Malay language since 2014 in China, covering such domains as teaching, research and publishing. He underscored the enduring partnership between USM and BFSU and revealed plans for joint initiatives in the coming years. 

In 2024, the two universities will co-host an international seminar on Malay-Chinese society and culture in Penang, Malaysia, followed by the Fifth International Seminar on Translation, Language and Culture between China and Malaysia in 2025. 

With the joint efforts of China and Malaysia, the Malay language program at BFSU has been established for more than 60 years, providing China with approximately 300 high-quality Malay language talents, said Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university. 

He recalled the accolades received by BFSU's Malay language program from the Malaysian government, including the International Malay Language Outstanding Contribution Award to Wu Zongyu, the founder of the program, in 2011, and the title of China’s Malay Language Development Base given in 2014. 

The re-establishment of the senior visiting scholar chair is poised to elevate not only BFSU's Malay language program but also the overall quality of Malay language education and talent cultivation in Chinese higher education institutions. This, in turn, will further foster comprehensive cooperation between China and Malaysia in such areas as education, economics, and culture, advancing the enduring friendship between the two nations, Jia said. 

To promote the effective development of Malay language and cultural studies on a global scale, the Malaysian government established five senior visiting scholar chairs of Malay studies in the early 21st century. 

In 2007, the only permanent senior visiting scholar chair of Malay studies was set up at BFSU's Centre for China-Malay Studies. From 2008 to the present, three distinguished experts have been sent by the MOHE as senior visiting scholars to BFSU, greatly enhancing the teaching and learning of the Malay language, not only at BFSU but also across universities in China. 

The recent restructuring of the Malaysian government has reaffirmed the importance of this initiative. It designates five renowned Malaysian universities to oversee the selection and appointment of senior visiting scholars, with USM managing the appointment process for the sole senior visiting scholar chair in China, located at BFSU.