On September 19, during the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, the Han Culture Centre Malaysia awarded the Tengkolok, a heroic headdress symbolizing the spirit of ethnic friendship, to Chinese writer and Guangxi Minzu University Professor Dong Xi. Datuk Goh Hin San, Chairman of the Han Culture Centre Malaysia, placed the Tengkolok on Dong Xi in recognition of his outstanding contributions to promoting China-Malaysia literary exchanges, translation and publishing, and other fields. Dong Xi thus became the ninth recipient of the award. The previous recipient was Chinese writer Liu Zhenyun.

Tengkolok is a highly symbolic headdress in traditional Malay culture, made by folding embroidered silk. The Han Culture Centre Malaysia awards it to international friends who have worked vigorously to promote exchanges between China and Malaysia in such fields as culture, literature, art, drama, education, language, publishing, and translation. It is the highest folk honor conferred on friends in Malay culture, intended to commend and encourage recipients to continue contributing to China-Malaysia friendly cooperation.

Datuk Goh Hin San (first from left) and Wang Xueyu, Vice Chairman of the Han Culture Centre Malaysia, present the award to writer Dong Xi

Datuk Goh Hin San presents Dong Xi with a copy of his newly published book, Yong Peng Chronicles

Dong Xi (center) with award presenters