Guests mingling and enjoying the buffet during the reception at a hotel. — Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
RAIN barely dampened the mood at an evening reception to mark Taiwan’s 112th National Day.
Guests mingled while enjoying the Taiwanese and Malaysian dishes laid out buffet-style at the event held in a Kuala Lumpur hotel.
There was also a choir performance by students.
“It’s an honour to have so many friends around Malaysia joining us on this joyous occasion as we mark my nation’s birthday,” said Kuala Lumpur’s Taipei Economic and Cultural Office representative (head of mission) Phoebe Yeh.
Taiwan’s National Day was on Oct 10.
Yeh, who arrived in January, said that she had been “overwhelmed by the beauty of Malaysia as well as the hospitality of its people and the delicious food.”
A choir performing during the 112th National Day of Taiwan in Kuala Lumpur.
She said both countries had forged close relations especially in trade and investment.
“Taiwan is Malaysia’s eighth largest source of FDI with more than US$14bil (RM66bil).
“Bilateral trade is growing tremendously, reaching a historical high of US$36bil (RM170bil) in 2022,” she said, adding that Taiwan was Malaysia’s fifth largest trading partner.
Yeh said Malaysia was one of the largest sources of foreign students pursuing their education in Taiwan.
“Currently, there are about 13,000 Malaysians studying there.”
As for tourism, she said that among Asean countries, Malaysia was Taiwan‘s largest source of tourists.
It was ranked the third most popular tourist destination among non-OIC countries in the latest Global Muslim Travel Index.
