Analysts said these cultural exchanges will help ensure that the diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China, which are deeply rooted in people-to-people relations, will continue to flourish.
“Going forward, you see these students when they get to know one another, I think the next thing they would do perhaps set up some enterprises. They will have some joint projects, joint collaborations together,” said Dr Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
“I think it will continue to drive this already very close bilateral relations,” he added.
Another student, Ms Wang Yi, was practising a Malay folk dance called Zapin when CNA spoke to her.
Ms Wang, who is from the north-central region of Ningxia, was among 44,000 students from China who applied for entry to Malaysia’s public universities last year. She secured a place at the faculty of creative arts in University Malaya.
The undergraduate is trained in traditional Chinese dance, and said she enjoys how “jovial” Malay dance is.
“Whenever the locals perform the dance, you can see that they are smiling from their hearts,” the 21-year-old added.
“I like Malaysia very much. I wish to bring a part of its culture back with me.”
