Klebang: The Cheng Ho International Conference 2025 (CHIC2025) will be held annually to further strengthen the deep-rooted historical ties between Malaysia and China, particularly Melaka, while enhancing collaborative research on the centuries-old maritime legacy shared by both civilisations. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the legacy of Admiral Cheng Ho is not only reflected through the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, but also through the enduring spirit of friendship and collaboration that continues to define bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ab Rauf emphasized that this platform will serve as a bridge to strengthen research efforts. Through this conference, there will be opportunities to further validate historical evidence, especially those that may have been distorted by colonial narratives in the past. This statement was made as he addressed reporters after officiating the CHIC2025 in Klebang. Present at the event was the Minister at the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, Zheng Xuefang, and Institut Tun Perak chief executive officer, Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Ainuddin Iskandar Lee Abdullah.
Ab Rauf also expressed confidence that CHIC2025 will continue to serve as a strategic platform that inspires innovative ideas, strengthens professional and academic networks, and fosters sustainable development for the future. He remarked that Melaka will continue working to consolidate its position as a regional hub for maritime knowledge, trade, and cultural exchange, aligning with the vision of CHIC2025. The state government, through Institut Tun Perak, has undertaken further research in China to explore the historical significance of the maritime legacy and the voyages of Admiral Cheng Ho to Melaka.
The Chief Minister announced that Melaka will host the Cheng Ho Festival, an initiative aimed at reinforcing cultural diplomacy, showcasing the state’s rich maritime heritage, and elevating Melaka’s prominence on the international stage. The festival will be organized alongside Visit Melaka Year 2.0, bringing together all historical findings, whether officially documented or uncovered through exploration, research, and academic studies, to be showcased to the public next year.
During the event, Ab Rauf witnessed the exchange of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between Institut Tun Perak and Guangxi Minzu University with the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum. This agreement aims to promote joint research, cultural exchange programmes, seminars, and publication initiatives. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was sealed between Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and Nanjing Technical University for the development of Cheng Ho College, focusing on technical and vocational education, digital innovation, and engineering-related fields.