Asian media play a role in the facilitation of cultural exchanges

6 September 2024

PETALING JAYA: Asian media members play a decisive role in advancing civilization in the region and facilitating cultural exchanges, as emphasized by Qu Yingpu, the publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily.

Speaking at the Forum on Cultural Heritage Conservation in Malaysia, Qu stressed the industry's responsibility in safeguarding cultural heritages and fostering collaboration to overcome barriers for collective progress.

The forum, themed "Shared Heritage, Shared Future," was organized by China Daily, in partnership with the Asia News Network and the think tank KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific.

Qu emphasised the need to engage more individuals in the preservation of cultural heritage to contribute to the vibrancy of Asian civilization in the modern era.

Recognising Asia as a cradle of human civilization, home to ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China, Qu underscored the significance of appreciating and conserving the region's cultural and natural treasures, which have yielded significant achievements in human history.

Christina Yeo Ken Yin, undersecretary of the International Relations Division in Culture at Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, highlighted the importance of promoting the exchange and mutual learning of Asian cultural heritage. In addition to existing cooperation programs with countries like China, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia, Malaysia is preparing to join the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, an intergovernmental platform initiated by China to enhance regional cooperation in preserving cultural heritage.

Chang Shan, the counselor of the Chinese embassy in Malaysia, emphasised the role of civilization exchanges and mutual learning in driving human progress, global peace, and development.

With Asia serving as a significant cradle of human civilization, close historical ties between China and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have fostered people-to-people exchanges, promoting cultural understanding and cooperation.

Mahfuz Anam, chairman of Asia News Network and editor and publisher of Bangladesh's The Daily Star, highlighted the communicative power of cultures in bridging differences among people.

He urged individuals, especially journalists, to invest more effort in understanding diverse cultural heritages to mitigate misunderstandings in a world marked by conflicts and uncertainties.

President of Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Malaysia, Ronald Gan cited the Baba and Nyonya communities as a prime example of cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia, showcasing blended elements in cuisine, attire, and architecture.

"We are, after all, the descendants of the wise Chinese who migrated to Nanyang with the values of inclusiveness and mutual benefit," said Gan, who has been organizing a Wangchuan ceremony in Melaka.

China and Malaysia jointly nominated the ceremony, which was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020.