New China ambassador becomes instant celebrity

PETALING JAYA: China’s new ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian, whose name in Mandarin literally means daylight, has been become an instant celebrity since his arrival in Malaysia.

Bai, whose flight from Beijing touched down at Kuala Lumpur International Airport late at night on Nov 28, was surprised to see a large crowd of Chinese community leaders at the airport waiting to welcome him, reported The Star.

The 46-year-old Chinese envoy was “overwhelmed and touched” by the warmth exuded by the guild leaders, led by Pheng Yin Huah, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).

“The second surprise is that I have become an instant ‘star’ after the Chinese media featured me almost every day.

“Many people, including Malays at the Umno general assembly, asked for a photo with me,” The Star quoted Bai as saying at a grand welcome dinner attended by 500 people on Dec 8 at Wisma Huazong in Kuala Lumpur.

He said in the first 10 days of his arrival, he had met with five cabinet ministers, including Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, and Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, adding that he had also met Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

The Chinese envoy was “forced” to pose for photographs with leaders from 45 Chinese guilds in 45 separate sessions after delivering his speech at his welcome dinner at Wisma Huazong.

The hour-long photography session might have been an extraordinary surprise for Bai, but his non-fading smiles indicated he was enjoying the experience.

The new ambassador may be in for more surprises as many other big and small Chinese associations have lined up welcome-gatherings for him.

The Chinese ambassador may be the only envoy in Malaysia who has to entertain so many welcome dinners.

Bai knows a lot about Malaysia because he was a deputy director-general at the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China taking charge of Asean and Malaysia in the last four years.

“I am no stranger to Malaysia. While in Beijing, I handled bilateral issues and screened major projects going into Malaysia,” he said at the Huazong dinner.

Bai has previously served as a trade and economic counsellor in Manila. The Malaysian posting is the first time he heads an embassy.

He said he had set himself three targets in his new job: he will work towards elevating China-Malaysia ties to a higher level, hasten economic cooperation, and build closer people-to-people relations.

In terms of relations, he said China and Malaysia had struck a comprehensive strategic partnership.

China’s data show annual total Malaysia-China trade has in recent years hovered around US$100 billion (RM408 billion). Chinese tourist arrivals are expected to hit three million this year.

The diplomat also praised Chinese Malaysians for the vital role they had played in helping China’s early trade and economic development from the 1960s to 1980s.

On a lighter note, Bai said he loves durian – particularly Musang King – and the melodious voice of Malaysian singer Shila Amzah, whose Mandarin songs have made her a household name in China.

Huazong president Pheng said Malaysia-China ties had been hitting new highs.

“With Bai as ambassador, I believe more Chinese investments will come and bilateral trade will increase,” he said.

Pheng also expressed his hope that Bai could help arrange for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Malaysia soon. It has been reported that Prime Minister Najib Razak has extended an invitation to the Chinese leader.

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