The 2018 Malaysia Food and Cultural Festival which was held in conjunction with the 2018 Silk Road International Expo, was co-hosted by the Shangri-La Hotel Xi’an and Tourism Malaysia with the support of AirAsia and the Consulate General of Malaysia in Xi’an from 10 – 18 May 2018.
Mr. Markus Christ, the General Manager of Shangri-La Hotel Xi’an and H.E. Dato’ Zainuddin Yahya, Ambassador of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of China, gave the welcoming remarks and the event was officiated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on 11 May 2018. The Chinese Guest of Honour was Mr. Guo Dawei, Vice-Chairman of Standing Committee of Shaanxi Provincial People’s Congress, while other Malaysia dignitaries include YBhg. Dato’ Isham Ishak, Deputy Secretary General of Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia, Mr. Zalizam Zakaria, Minister Counsellor (Tourism) of Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing and Mr. Tom Tang, AirAsia China.
Amongst the other attendees at the Festival were the Consuls General of the Republic of Korea, Cambodia and Thailand, representatives from the Foreign Affairs Office of Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government, Xi’an Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xi’an Municipal People’s Government, Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Development Commission, local business community and Malaysian expatriate community in Xi’an, including HBS and families.
The Food and Cultural Festival highlighted the richness and vibrant heritage of Malaysia culinary and cultural. It offered the patrons the opportunity to taste the most authentic Malaysian cuisines, such as the perennial favourite satay, char kway teow, rojak, curry laksa, mee goreng, nasi ayam and many more, specially cooked by Chef Suhimi Awang Damit and Chef Awangku Sidik Siboto from Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa. The guests were also entertained by the colourful traditional dances performed by the cultural troupe and traditional henna tattoo demonstration from the Sabah State Tourism Bureau.
