Recently, Chen Zhihua, Dean of Tianjin University’s School of International Education, attended the third Exhibition of Chinese Higher Education in Malaysia as the head of Chinese delegation. The exhibition, hosted by Malaysia’s Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China, was held in the Confucian Private Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur and the Foon Yew High School. Nearly 30 colleges and universities from 16 provinces in China participated in this exhibition.

On March 7, 2017, Chen Zhihua attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition at the Confucian Private Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur. YB Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Huang Weiyin, the Chairman of Confucian Private Secondary School, Chen Zhicheng, the Founding President of Malaysia’s Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China and its President Mo Zelin were present at the ceremony. Chen Zhihua spoke at the ceremony, pointing out that Kuala Lumpur was an important city for the Belt and Road initiative, thus greatly advantaging Chinese students of the Confucian Private Secondary School to further their studies in China. He also expressed his hope that local students could seize the chance to study in China and that the Colleges and Universities attending the exhibition would provide many admission scholarships to Malaysian students. On the same day, Chen Zhihua with the delegation visited Tunku Abdul Rahman University and signed a cooperation memorandum.

On March 9, 2017, the second leg of the exhibition was held in Foon Yew High School. Chen Zhihua, Mo Zelin, Pan Yongqiang, Tong Xingcun, Chairman of Foon Yew High School, and Huang Huizhu (translated name), Principal of Foon Yew High School were present. During the opening ceremony, Chen Zhihua pointed out that the Chinese government had relaxed the employment requirements and outstanding students would be permitted to obtain employment in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and other cities. He believed that with the gradual relaxing of the policy, there would be an increasing number of Malaysian students learning in China in the future. At the same time, Chen Zhihua also met Huang Zijin and Tan Ximei, the Vice Principals of Foon Yew High School, and arrived at a consensus over educational collaboration between the two schools.

It is reported that more than 4,000 Malaysian students sought consultations and advice during the exhibition.