Countries benefiting from collaborative research

Growing China-Malaysia exchanges have opened up fresh avenues for collaborative research, cultivating young professionals who are not only steeped in Chinese culture, but are also savvy about Southeast Asia's development.

"There's a notable uptick in education and research cooperation between the two countries," said Wang Ruifang, president of Xiamen University Malaysia, or XMUM. An increasing number of Malaysian students and scholars are pursuing studies and research in China, and more Chinese university representatives have visited Malaysia to seek partnerships, he said.

XMUM is the first overseas campus established by a Chinese education institution that is included in the Double First-Class Initiative — a government program with selected universities to enhance the country's higher education capabilities.