KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been conferred an honorary professorship by Tsinghua University in Shanghai.
In a Facebook post today, Anwar expressed his gratitude, describing the award as a reflection of the enduring friendship between Malaysia and China.
"I accept this honour on behalf of the people of Malaysia, as a symbol of the lasting friendship between our nations and our shared aspirations for peace, progress, and prosperity.
"We live at a time increasingly marked by division and the tangled web of identity politics.
"Narratives that presume that conflicts are inevitable are overshadowing our potential for cooperation," he said in the posting, calling for a renewed focus on dialogue and mutual respect.
The honourary professorship was conferred by Tsinghua University Party Committee secretary Professor Qiu Yong and the Chinese Academy of Sciences academician.
Anwar said he acknowledged Tsinghua University's tradition of building connections across borders and cultures, a legacy that dates back to its founding in 1911.
"It embodies 'lita'arafu' – the principle of learning from one another, of going beyond tolerance to cultivate true understanding," he said.
This principle, Anwar added, aligns with his vision of a "feast of civilisations," where diverse cultures come together not in conflict but in celebration, each contributing unique strengths to the global table.
Drawing on the ethical teachings of both Islam and Confucianism, Anwar stressed the importance of balance in addressing today's challenges.
"The 'Zhongyong' (Doctrine of the Mean) in Confucianism and the concept of 'wasatiyyah' in Islam highlight the importance of balance – the 'middle path' – as a means to nurture social harmony and sustainable progress.
"These values provide essential frameworks for addressing the urgent issues of our time. They serve as a lodestar that guides us toward solutions that genuinely serve the common good.
Anwar also expressed his hopes for deeper collaboration between Tsinghua University and Malaysian institutions, particularly in academic and cultural exchange.
"It is my earnest hope that this honorary professorship marks the beginning of even greater collaboration between Tsinghua University and Malaysian institutions.
"Through academic and cultural exchanges, we can nurture a new generation of leaders grounded in a genuine appreciation of each other's cultures, perspectives, and aspirations," he said.
Anwar added that: "A great poet once said, 'Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.' Let us, therefore, learn from each other with humility, openness, and a spirit that reaches beyond itself."