BEIJING: The Malaysian Gastronomy Festival 2024, held for the first time in Beijing yesterday, marked a new milestone in promoting Malaysian culture and cuisine on the international stage.
Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad, said the inaugural festival successfully introduced the essence of Malaysian heritage to the Chinese public.
The event showcased nearly 30 traditional dishes and fruits, each representing the unique flavours of Malaysia's diverse states.
Among the dishes served were Nasi Lemak, Nasi Dagang Terengganu, Laksa Johor, Lontong, Rendang, rojak buah and many more.
Norman said the festival serves as a form of cultural diplomacy, building connections and offering an authentic glimpse into Malaysia for an international audience, thereby fostering cross-cultural understanding.
"This is the first programme of its kind that we are holding. It's aimed at introducing the rich food culture of Malaysia, and we wanted to find a concept that would bring this across.
"We tried to introduce as much as possible. Today, we have over 30 traditional foods and fruits from Malaysia. This is one of the ways cultural diplomacy is woven into our relationship with China," he told the media at a press conference.
Norman also said the event would be held again next year with a unique twist, featuring Malaysian Chinese traditional foods adapted to local tastes.
"As I mentioned, this is our first event of this kind, and we plan to hold it again next year with a slightly different concept. We'll showcase even more dishes, including fusion cuisine.
"This fusion concept refers to foods that have evolved in flavour, blending elements from Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines.
"We will bring Chinese dishes prepared by the Malaysian Chinese community, which have been adapted to suit Malaysian tastes.
"So, it will be a bit different from the Chinese cuisine here in China, and I'm sure you will love it."
This festival continues the Rasa Malaysia Festival, which was held last month and showcased both Malaysian and local Chinese cuisine.
Norman said the embassy recognised a need to introduce Malaysian culture through traditional foods.
"The Rasa Malaysia had a more open concept. We didn't just bring Malaysian food but also dishes from different regions in China. Through that, we saw a promising platform to introduce Malaysian culture. For this event, however, we're focusing exclusively on Malaysian dishes.
"This is one way to share Malaysian culture with the Chinese public, using a non-controversial approach, with no politics involved."
Attendees included Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun and his wife, along with Malaysian guests and students residing in Beijing.