From October 17th to 23rd, 2025, UNN successfully hosted the "2025 Chinese Zhuang Culture and Technological Innovation" study tour for Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Technology and Management (TARUMT), Malaysia. This study tour, organized and implemented by the College of ASEAN Studies, focused on three major themes: technological innovation practices, folk culture experiences, and cultural research on "Nanning in My Eyes," aiming to promote a deeper understanding among Malaysian youth of China's technological advancements and the unique cultural characteristics of Nanning. The event also coincided with the period leading up to UNN's 40th anniversary celebrations, injecting international vitality into the preparations.

On the morning of October 18th, the opening ceremony was held at the University's Student Activity Center. Wu Jie, Dean of the College of ASEAN Studies at UNN, Mr. Lee Kim Chai, Deputy Director of the Centre for Continuing and Professional Education at TARUMT, and five members of the study delegation from TARUMT attended the ceremony. Dean Wu Jie first delivered a welcome speech on behalf of UNN. She reviewed the collaborative visits between the two institutions since the establishment of the Alliance between UNN and ASEAN universities in June 2024, acknowledging the innovative cooperation in talent cultivation, faculty exchanges, and scientific research. She emphasized that this study tour was not only an important practice in deepening cooperation between the two universities but also a rare opportunity for young students from China and Malaysia to enhance mutual understanding and foster lasting friendships. Mr. Lee Kim Chai, Deputy Director of the Centre for Continuing and Professional Education at TARUMT, expressed gratitude to UNN and looked forward to further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the faculties and students of both institutions through this study tour, laying a foundation for future visits.

From October 18th to 23rd, under the guidance of UNN's faculty and students, the study delegation visited modern industrial colleges and practical teaching facilities on campus, participated in various engaging workshops, and experienced the Zhuang culture and technological achievements firsthand in downtown Nanning. In the technological innovation practice segment, the delegation visited the College of Traffic and Transportation, the College of Food and Quality Engineering, and the Huawei Digital Technology Industry College at UNN.

During the folk culture experience segment, the focus was on the inheritance of Zhuang culture. At a bamboo pole dance activity organized by the College of Education, participants interacted to the rhythm of traditional Chinese and Malaysian music, experiencing the essence of Zhuang agricultural culture. In lion dance workshops, participants learned basic movements such as the Qilin Step from UNN students, appreciating the spiritual value of Lingnan lion dance. At a pottery-making workshop organized by the College of Art and Design, participants learned pottery techniques, grasping the Oriental cultural wisdom of "vessels embodying moral principles."

Additionally, the College of ASEAN Studies arranged a variety of off-campus field trips for the delegation. Tthe delegation visited the ASEAN Business District, the Historical and Cultural District, the Deng Yingchao Memorial Hall, the Guangxi Ethnic Museum, the Nanning Confucius Temple, and the Qingxiu Mountain Scenic Area. Through their lenses, they documented Nanning's modern development, architectural features, cultural heritage details, and ecological advantages, further understanding Nanning's urban positioning as the "Green City of China" and the "Gateway to ASEAN."

At the closing ceremony held on October 23rd, Li Jun Yi, Vice Dean of the College of ASEAN Studies, delivered a speech. She pointed out that this study tour provided a platform for cultural exchange and technological learning between young students from China and Malaysia. The College of ASEAN Studies would build upon this study tour to continuously deepen educational cooperation with TARUMT, expand dimensions of cultural exchange, and contribute to the development of friendly relations between China and Malaysia. Faculty and students from the study delegation expressed gratitude for UNN's meticulous arrangements, stating that they had gained a lot from the experience and had witnessed a real and vibrant China. During the closing ceremony, students from the delegation showcased their cultural research findings on "Nanning in My Eyes" through videos, speeches, and written messages.

This "2025 Chinese Zhuang Culture and Technological Innovation Experience Delegation" event not only provided a platform for face-to-face exchanges between faculty and students from the two universities but also injected new vitality into educational cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia. UNN will take this opportunity to continue leveraging its strengths, deepening educational cooperation with ASEAN countries, serving the "Belt and Road" Initiative, and making greater contributions to elevating educational and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia to new heights.