Caption: Datuk Dexter Lau (left 2) and Kwan Joo Sin (left 3) posing for a commemorative photo
(Guangzhou), CHINA: Datuk Dexter Lau, who serves in four influential leadership roles spanning the corporate and chamber sectors, was invited as a VIP Guest to the prestigious “2026 Visit Malaysia Year Gala Dinner” organised by the MayCham China Guangdong Chapter.
He attended the prestigious international business gala in his capacities as President of the Malaysia China Chamber of Commerce Sabah, Chairman of the Malaysia Cambodia Business Association (MCBA) East Malaysia, EXCO Member of the Federation of Malaysia Public Listed Company Berhad (FPLC), and Executive Director of Kim Teck Cheong Consolidated Berhad.
During the event, Datuk Dexter Lau engaged with an esteemed circle of VIP guests and international dignitaries, including Harris Alwi, Consul General of Malaysia in Guangzhou; Cindy Wee, Consul General of the Republic of Singapore in Guangzhou; KIJIMA (INA) Yoshiko, Consul General of Japan in Guangzhou; Ruben Espinoza, Consul General of Peru in Guangzhou; Ali Ibrahim Alheji, Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Guangzhou; Lashinka Dammullage, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou; and Porpot Changyawa, Vice Consul of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Guangzhou. Chairman of MayCham China Guangdong Chapter, Kwan Joo Sin, was also present to receive the distinguished guests.
A grand Lion Eye-Dotting Ceremony was also held during the gala dinner, where Datuk Dexter Lau was invited to officiate the auspicious ceremony alongside other international dignitaries, symbolising prosperity and extending best wishes for the “2026 Visit Malaysia Year” campaign.
Such recognition not only reflected Datuk Dexter Lau’s influence and standing within international business and regional commercial platforms, but also highlighted the increasingly active role and growing visibility of Sabah’s business community in regional economic cooperation.
Datuk Dexter Lau said the “2026 Visit Malaysia Year” campaign serves not only as an important platform to promote Malaysia’s tourism resources, but also as a valuable opportunity to deepen people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation between Malaysia and China.
“As Malaysia-China relations continue to strengthen, tourism today is no longer merely about sightseeing exchanges. It has become an important bridge driving investment, cultural, educational and industrial cooperation between both countries,” he said.
He added that the implementation of the “2026 Visit Malaysia Year” campaign would further enhance international awareness of Malaysia, especially Sabah, while attracting more Chinese tourists, businesses and investors to explore Sabah’s development opportunities.
At the same time, Sabah’s business community will continue strengthening ties with enterprises and chambers across China by leveraging tourism to drive trade and using cultural exchanges to foster deeper cooperation, thereby expanding bilateral opportunities for mutual growth and win-win collaboration.
Also attending the gala dinner were Malaysia China Chamber of Commerce Sabah Director of Commercial Affairs Brian Ho and Council member Benny Hon. Also in attendance were Deputy Chairlperson of the Women Entrepreneurs Committee (WEC) of the MCCC Sarawak Branch, Vivien Tan, and Sarawak WEC Council member Jenny Hong.
Among the distinguished guests attending the gala dinner were several Chinese government officials and business leaders, including Liu Dezheng, Deputy Director of Guangdong Investment Promotion Bureau; Huang Cong, Standing Committee Member of the Sanshui District Committee of Foshan; Qian Jingyu, Deputy District Mayor of Sanshui District, Foshan; and Zhong Xuexian, Standing Committee Member of the Guangdong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.
The gala dinner aimed to showcase Malaysia’s rich and diverse tourism resources while further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Malaysian and Chinese entrepreneurs, as well as providing a high-level business networking platform for representatives from both countries to explore new opportunities for collaboration.
