CHIC2025 TO BECOME ANNUAL EVENT STRENGTHENING MALAYSIA-CHINA HISTORICAL TIES

MELAKA, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The Cheng Ho International Conference 2025 (CHIC2025) will be held annually to further strengthen the deep-rooted historical ties between Malaysia and China, particularly Melaka, while enhancing collaborative research on the centuries-old maritime legacy shared by both civilisations.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the legacy of Admiral Cheng Ho is not only reflected through the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, but also through the enduring spirit of friendship and collaboration that continues to define bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.

“This platform will serve as a bridge to strengthen our own research, and through this conference, we will be able to further validate historical evidence, especially those that may have been distorted by colonial narratives in the past,” he told reporters after officiating the CHIC2025 in Klebang here today.

Also present was the Minister at the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, Zheng Xuefang, and Institut Tun Perak chief executive officer, Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Ainuddin Iskandar Lee Abdullah. 

Ab Rauf also expressed confidence that CHIC2025 will continue to serve as a strategic platform that inspires innovative ideas, strengthens professional and academic networks, and fosters sustainable development for the future.

“Melaka will continue working to consolidate its position as a regional hub for maritime knowledge, trade and cultural exchange, in line with the vision of CHIC2025.

“In this regard, the state government, through Institut Tun Perak, has undertaken further research in China to explore the historical significance of our maritime legacy and the voyages of Admiral Cheng Ho to Melaka,” he noted.

The Chief Minister said that Melaka will host the Cheng Ho Festival, an initiative aimed at reinforcing cultural diplomacy, showcasing the state’s rich maritime heritage and elevating Melaka’s prominence on the international stage.

“We will organise it alongside Visit Melaka Year 2.0, bringing together all historical findings, whether officially documented or uncovered through exploration, research and academic studies, to be showcased to the public next year,” he added.

At the event, Ab Rauf also witnessed the exchange of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between Institut Tun Perak and Guangxi Minzu University with the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, aimed at promoting joint research, cultural exchange programmes, seminars and publication initiatives.

Also sealed was the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and Nanjing Technical University for the development of Cheng Ho College, focusing on technical and vocational education, digital innovation and engineering-related fields.

-- BERNAMA