KUCHING (Oct 1): Today’s youths hold the crucial role as stewards of the nation’s cultural heritage, ensuring its preservation and lasting legacy.

In making this call, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian hailed the Second Asian Cultural Heritage Youth Forum as ‘an important platform to safeguard cultural heritage and core values in the face of globalisation, in tandem with the state government’s commitment’.

“Culture is not only the soul of a nation, but also the foundation of civilisation. It is a value, one that is very important.

“All efforts to preserve cultural inheritance are part of shaping a vibrant, modern identity,” he said in his speech for the opening ceremony of the forum at the Borneo Cultures Museum here today.

Hosted by Swinburne Innovation Malaysia, a subsidiary of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak), in collaboration with the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, the event is themed ‘Harnessing Local Wisdom, Innovate to Protect Our Cultural Heritage’.

On the five-day forum, Dr Sim said the fact that it was co-organised by the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, emphasised the importance of fostering not only good government-to-government (G2G) relations, but also good people-to-people connections between both regions – Malaysia and China.

“Diplomatic relations are not just the responsibility of governments, as they are sustained by the goodwill and understanding of the ordinary citizens.

“And as I always say, the G2G ties only exist when one is in power, but it is the people-to-people bonds that last forever,” he said.

He further said the partnership between Malaysia and China had facilitated the cultural exchanges between them, which had also benefitted the economies and the citizens of both countries.

“Over the years, Malaysia and China have been enjoying a strong and harmonious partnership built on mutual respect, shared interests and deep cultural connections.

“So today, we are not just here to honour past successes, but also to look ahead, building a future where this relationship will continue to thrive,” he said, pointing out that the responsibility to maintain diplomatic ties ‘transcended’ generations.

Also present were Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak pro-vice chancellor and chief executive officer Prof Lau Hieng Ho, Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation deputy director Zhao Yinjia, and other dignitaries.