On October 18, Chinese Consul General in Penang H. E. Mr. Zhou Youbin attended the Opening Ceremony of the 13th Penang International Lion Dance on Stilts Invitational Competition. Penang State Executive Councilor for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) YB Wong Hon Wai, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) Mayor Mr. Hj Baderul Amin Bin Abdul Hamid, and the tournament’s organizing chairman Mr. Lay Hock Peng attended the event.

In his speech, Consul General Mr. Zhou expressed that, based on the Chinese traditional lion dance, the lion dance on stilts innovatively developed in Malaysia, is a vivid portrayal of civilizations exchanges and mutual learning. Chinese Consulate General in Penang is willing to work with all walks of life to promote the China-Malaysia multinational nomination to inscribe the element of lion dance on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity.

This competition attracted a total of 35 teams from Malaysia, China, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, etc., to compete on the same stage.