Dato' Norman Muhamad, Ambassador of Malaysia to China, gives a speech at the Malaysian Gastronomy Festival 2024 in Beijing, on November 12, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of Malaysia in China

The Embassy of Malaysia in China hosted the Malaysian Gastronomy Festival 2024, a vibrant celebration of Malaysian culture, cuisine, and heritage in Beijing on November 12. 

The event brought together the best of Malaysia's diverse culinary traditions, from street food favorites to modern interpretations of the country's beloved dishes. 

On the sideline of the event, Dato' Norman Muhamad, Ambassador of Malaysia to China, told the Global Times that the Malaysian Gastronomy Festival was "the first one we have organized in Beijing. It is a follow-up to an event that was hosted by the embassy in October."

At the press conference, the ambassador said that he observed that during last month's event, "it was very effective [that] we promote the Malaysian culture to the Chinese population here in Beijing."

The ambassador also said that the event idea is inspired from cultural diplomacy as the best medium of culture is food and gastronomy. "The way we have [cuisine] in Malaysia is quite different," noted the Ambassador.