Sweet melody to Malaysia-China ties...

Malaysian Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is not so much into singing but that does not stop him from appreciating music.
"Life without music and culture is no life at all," he said during a visit to a music school in Beijing where he was entertained to an eight-piece performance of age-old Chinese instruments by the students.
Plucking a seven-string instrument known as "guqin" that dates back 2000 years and other treasured musical items like the pipa, yangjin, and erhu, the students skilfully performed a sweet medley of songs.
Mesmerised by their performance, Hishammuddin invited the students to perform before his Asean counterparts when Malaysia hosts the ministerial meeting in March next year.
And in a new beat to Malaysia-China cooperation, he offered the school, which celebrated its 40th anniversary recently, to help draw up the curriculum for the two arts schools which will built in Johor and Sarawak.
Such expected link-up capped a successful trip for Hishammuddin, who broke new ground as the first Education Minister from Malaysia to make an official visit to China in 10 years.

The reverberating sound of 'kompang' in Beijing...

The beatings of the kompang and songs of Siti Nurhaliza welcomed the arrival of Malaysian Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) today, further cementing Malaysia-China relations.
The visit to the university which offers courses in 36 languages, including Malay Language, is part of the minister's tightly scheduled official visit to China to strengthen bilateral cooperation in education between the two countries.
"We must continue building bridges to face the tide of globalisation," he told the audience in Bahasa Malaysia at the function to welcome him.
"Besides language, bilateral cooperation could also be enhanced through culture and sports," added Hishammuddin who arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a one-week visit.
At the function, he was impressed with the proficiency of the Chinese students taking the four-year Malay Language course and their interest in Malay songs and traditional dances. During a dialogue with the students who were clad in baju Melayu, baju kurung and kebaya, a student expressed interest in learning silat, the Malay art of self-defence.
Hishammuddin brought them good news by inviting them to Malaysia as his guests in conjunction with the country's 50th independence anniversary celebrations in August.