GUANGZHOU: Datuk Dexter Lau, who holds four influential leadership positions across the corporate and chamber sectors, was invited as a VIP guest to the prestigious Visit Malaysia Year 2026 Gala Dinner organised by the MayCham China Guangdong Chapter.
He attended the high-profile international business event in his capacities as President of the Malaysia China Chamber of Commerce Sabah (MCCC Sabah), Chairman of the Malaysia Cambodia Business Association (MCBA) East Malaysia, Executive Committee Member of the Federation of Malaysia Public Listed Company Berhad (FPLC), and Executive Director of Kim Teck Cheong Consolidated Berhad.
During the gala, Datuk Dexter engaged with an esteemed circle of VIP guests and international dignitaries, including Malaysia’s Consul General in Guangzhou, Harris Alwi; Singapore’s Consul General, Cindy Wee; Japan’s Consul General, KIJIMA (INA) Yoshiko; Peru’s Consul General, Ruben Espinoza; Saudi Arabia’s Consul General, Ali Ibrahim Alheji; Sri Lanka’s Consul General, Lashinka Dammullage; and Vice Consul of the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Porpot Changyawa. Also present was Chairman of MayCham China Guangdong Chapter, Kwan Joo Sin.
A highlight of the evening was the grand Lion Eye-Dotting Ceremony, where Datuk Dexter was invited to officiate alongside fellow international dignitaries, symbolising prosperity and extending well wishes for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign.
The recognition reflected Datuk Dexter’s growing influence on international business and regional commercial platforms, while underscoring the increasingly prominent role of Sabah’s business community in regional economic cooperation.
Datuk Dexter said the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign serves not only as a vital platform to promote Malaysia’s tourism offerings, but also as an important opportunity to strengthen people-to-people ties and deepen economic cooperation between Malaysia and China.
“As Malaysia-China relations continue to strengthen, tourism is no longer merely about sightseeing. It has become an important bridge for driving investment, cultural, educational and industrial cooperation between both countries,” he said.
He added that the campaign would further enhance international awareness of Malaysia—particularly Sabah—while attracting more Chinese tourists, businesses and investors to explore development opportunities in the state.
“At the same time, Sabah’s business community will continue to strengthen ties with enterprises and chambers across China by leveraging tourism to drive trade and cultural exchanges to foster deeper cooperation, thereby expanding bilateral opportunities for mutual growth and shared success,” he added.
Also attending the gala dinner were MCCC Sabah Director of Commercial Affairs Brian Ho and council member Benny Hon, as well as Deputy Chairperson of the Women Entrepreneurs Committee (WEC) of the MCCC Sarawak Branch, Vivien Tan, and Sarawak WEC council member Jenny Hong.
Among the distinguished guests were several Chinese government officials and business leaders, including Liu Dezheng, Deputy Director of the 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 offerings while further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Malaysian and Chinese entrepreneurs, providing a high-level platform for business leaders from both countries to explore new opportunities for collaboration.-BNN
