To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Malaysia and in conjunction of 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year, ASEAN-China Centre and China Oriental Performing Arts Group jointly organized the China Art Troupe to visit Malaysia and presented four performances in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Kuching and Miri from Oct.04-14, 2014. Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Mohad Najib sent a congratulatory message to the performances.

The premiere was held on October 06 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Ambassador of China to Malaysia H.E.Huang Huikang, President of Mah Sing Group H.E. Syed Norulzaman, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre H.E. Ma Mingqiang, Secretary General of Malaysia-China Friendship Association Mr.Tan Kai Hee, and Vice-President of China Oriental Performing Arts Group Mr. Li Zhenqing delivered speeches at the premiere. Around 3000 audience from all walks of life and diplomats from foreign countries based in Kuala Lumpur were present at the performance.

H.E.Huang Huikang said in his speech that, on the joyful occasion of the 40th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year, the tour performances by the world-known China Oriental Performing Art Group injected the joyfulness for the series activities in the year. It is belief that the visit will play an important role for further promoting the cultural interflow and mutual friendship between China and Malaysia. Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang stated, China Oriental Performing Arts Group represents the highest standard and latest development of Chinese music and dancing art. He hoped that it would not only present to Malaysian people the best performing arts of China, but also to further enhancing the mutual understanding between the two peoples of China and Malaysia.

The audience immersed themselves in the breathtaking performances of Chinese traditional and contemporary songs, dances and musical instruments playing. They enjoyed with great pleasure this visual and musical feast of culture. The crowd burst into deafening applause after each program. The audience were pleasantly surprised when the Malay folk dance “love for Kites”, folk song “Grandma”, Malay folk music by Erhu were performed. Some people said this was the best performance they had ever seen. Some even said they would follow the art troop to Melaka.

After the premiere in Kuala lumpur, the art group also gave performances in Melaka, Miri and Kuching. YAB Dato’s Seri lr. HJ Idris Bin HJ Haron, Chief Minister of Melaka,and YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri HaJI Adenan Bln Naji Satem, Chief Minister of Sarawak sent congratulatory messages respectively for the performances in Melaka and Miri. Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Senior Minister of local Government and Community Development and Second Minister of Finance was present at the event. Mr. Liu Quan, Consul-General of China to Kuching watched the performances in Miri and Kuching. The performances appealed over 10,000 audience and won a large favorable comments. When in Miri, the 5000-seat Stadium were fully packed with the local audience. Many even came a long way from Brunei. The audience were attracted by the charm of colorful Chinese culture and praised that the performance is the best they have watched in the past years. Lots of them were reluctant to leave the theatre after the show and rushed to take photos with the artists. The tour performances were widely covered by the major media.