简体中文
Malaysian students at the MARA University of Technology (UiTM) got a taste of Chinese culture on the campus on Tuesday, enjoying Chinese food, movies, dances during the China Cultural Day.
The event, jointly organized by UiTM and the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, was held in conjunction with the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between China and Malaysia with hundreds of students signing up for various activities.
Highlights included cultural tutorial activities such as Chinese calligraphy and using chopsticks, Chinese food and the screening of Chinese films including "Go Away Mr. Tumor" and a photo exhibition showcasing China's development over the past 70 years.
Significantly, 16 Chinese companies with offices in Malaysia, including China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), telecom giant Huawei and China Southern Airlines, set up booths as part of a career fair, offering about 50 positions to qualified students.
UiTM Vice Chancellor Mohd Azraai Kassim said the event had several objectives, including providing students with a wider exposure to be globalized employees through the study of Mandarin and other additional skills.
"It is a global job market," he said. "This cultural day is an opportunity actually for them to probably come and exercise the little Mandarin that they know and probably that will spark further interest and motivate them to learn Mandarin, to become proficient in the language so that they can in future work in companies from China," he said.
Zainab Mohd Noor, director of the UiTM office of international affairs, said of the more than 170,000 students of the university, over 7,000 had taken up studying Mandarin, and the cultural day provided them with an opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture and language.
Zainab added that the career fair had presented the students with a bigger outlook at their future prospects and to learn from what China has to offer.
"We also have exhibitions so our students will get to know China from the beginning to what it is all we know about China today," she said.
Nur Halimahtun Izzati Samsudin, 22, said the event provided her with valuable exposure to Chinese culture and offered her a chance to practice her Mandarin.
"The event that is organized is really excellent because it's a very good platform, especially for UiTM students, because for UiTM we have students who actually learn Mandarin, and it is good that they can actually come here and join activities," said the mass communication student.
"Other than that, we also have China companies coming and taking employees. So it's a good opportunity for them to venture into that and using their skills to try and become a global citizen," she said.
Chemical engineering student Mohamad Amir Malik Mohamad Sobri, 23, who is also learning Mandarin, said participating in the event had helped him sharpen his language skills.
"Today I just saw the movie 'Go Away Mr Tumor,' which is fully in Mandarin. The movie also shows some of the Chinese culture that is in China."
Hannan Mohd Apandi, 21, said she enjoyed Chinese food, adding that the photo exhibition had enlightened her on the history of China into the modern day.
"I would say that personally I really love Chinese food, especially the dumplings and right at the food demonstration," said the law student.
Speaking at the evening cultural performance by artists from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian said the youth would be the future of the friendship between China and Malaysia.
"We encourage more Malaysian friends, especially the youth, to visit China and see China with your own eyes," he told the students in his speech.
"It is our hope that more exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Malaysian people are carried out, drawing the hearts of our two peoples ever closer," he said.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
