Chen Jinyong: Writing a New Chapter of China-Malaysia Friendship with the Brush of Youth

Malaysian Youth at Tianjin University

In May 2024, on the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations, a joint letter from 87 Malaysian students at Tianjin University (TJU) received a reply from President Xi Jinping.

On April 15, 2025, when President Xi Jinping visited Malaysia, the Malaysian students at TJU recalled the earnest advice in his reply, their hearts still filled with excitement.

"Since coming to China, I’ve truly experienced the country’s development and the warmth of its people. I’ve also gained a deeper understanding of how the Belt and Road Initiative has created rare development opportunities for Malaysian youth. Through my lens, I hope to share the real China—vibrant and profound—with the world. With the power of youth, we can help Malaysia and the world better understand China," said Chen Jinyong in an interview with CRI Global Insights on April 16.

Chen Jinyong, an undergraduate student majoring in Information Management and Information Systems at TJU's Grade 2021, was one of the 87 international students who co-signed the joint letter. As an outstanding representative of China-Malaysia youth friendship exchanges, he has consistently demonstrated the mission of "China-Malaysia Friendship, Youth in the Lead" through concrete actions since enrolling at TJU. This young Malaysian has created vivid youthful annotations for building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in the new era, through his passion for digital media, application of professional knowledge, and deep engagement in cultural integration between the two nations.

01. Digital Bridge Facilitating China-Malaysia Cooperation

 As a member of TJU's "Maritime Digital Silk Road" thematic practice team, Chen Jinyong applied his professional expertise during a 2024 winter break research trip to his hometown in Malaysia. He identified significant information barriers hindering Malaysian SMEs from entering the Chinese market. In response, he proposed the conceptual framework for a "China-Malaysia Enterprise Cooperation Database", a digital platform designed to facilitate precise business matchmaking between enterprises of both nations, lower collaboration thresholds, and reduce unnecessary costs caused by information asymmetry.

Furthermore, Chen Jinyong achieved national recognition by winning the Silver Award in the main competition of the 14th "Challenge Cup" China College Student Entrepreneurship Competition. He introduced the "Tide Voice Youth" studio, an international student organization committed to serving as civilian diplomacy envoys along the Belt and Road Initiative. "Through initiatives like the Tide Voice Youth Camp, International Youth Forum, and Global Youth Media Incubator, we enable worldwide youth to intimately engage with China, collaboratively work with China, and effectively communicate about China," he explained. "This competition demonstrated how pooling the collective strengths of global youth can generate remarkable possibilities, positioning us as both ambassadors and catalysts for international friendship."

02. Lens Narratives: Documenting Cultural Integration

As Director of the Video Editing Department at the International Education New Media Center, Chen Jinyong has captured China's infrastructural marvels like the Baling River Bridge and performances by TJU's Malaysian 24 Solar Terms Drum Team, preserving countless cherished moments of his academic life in China.

"I'm passionate about documenting life through my lens because every frame represents life's most authentic essence," he shared. "Through my work, I've been privileged to interact closely with international students from diverse backgrounds. Though we come from different historical and cultural traditions, we've gathered in China by fate. Our mutual exchanges foster cultural understanding and respect, and these precious experiences make me appreciate the beauty of cultural diversity."

"Cultural communication requires warmth," Chen Jinyong emphasized. "I hope these visual stories can show Malaysian youth a panoramic view of China's development, beyond fragmented media portrayals."

Cultural integration manifests in daily campus life. During a multimedia applications workshop, Chen collaborated with Chinese classmates on a culinary video project. Their teamwork took them to a local market near campus, which is his first authentic experience of a Chinese wet market's vibrant atmosphere. His Chinese peers introduced local seasonings and ingredients, while he shared Malaysian home cooking techniques, including Nyonya flavors and traditional Malay spice blends.

"This collaboration extended beyond academic requirements. Through exchanging culinary knowledge and living habits, we achieved profound cross-cultural understanding. Such classroom-to-life experiences have made me genuinely feel the friendship and trust between Chinese and Malaysian youth," Chen Jinyong reflected. "It strengthened my conviction that our exchanges shouldn't stop at language, but must connect heart to heart."

03. Blueprinting the Future: Forging Bonds of Shared Destiny

When discussing post-graduation plans, Chen Jinyong expressed his aspiration to either remain in China or join Chinese enterprises in Malaysia to facilitate deeper integration between "Chinese solutions" and local contexts. He particularly emphasized the convergence of digital economy and traditional industries: "Malaysia's palm oil industry requires digital transformation, where China's e-commerce experience could offer innovative approaches."

Chen Jinyong further elaborated on his understanding of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future: "To me, this concept manifests most vividly in daily life, collaborating with multinational classmates on laboratory technologies, exchanging knowledge for mutual growth; or introducing Malaysian traditional culture during international festivals, helping students appreciate our cultural diversity and inclusiveness. These seemingly ordinary interactions are microcosms of our shared destiny. As students, we can apply our Tianjin University-acquired expertise to contribute to bilateral friendship, injecting youthful vitality into our nations' relations through concrete actions."

Concluding the interview, Chen Jinyong quoted President Xi Jinping's words: "The peoples of China and Malaysia should maintain frequent exchanges, just like relatives visiting each other." He added resolutely, "I aspire to be this perpetual 'relative' on the move, sowing seeds of China-Malaysia friendship in more young hearts."

By College of Management and Economics

Editor: Sun Xiaofang