Strengthening Regional Ties: AiSED’s Strategic Mission to Hainan Province

On March 23–24, 2026, Dato' Stephen Cheah conducted an official visit to Hainan Province, China, in his capacity as Chairman of the Asia Institute of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Diplomacy (AiSED) and the Southeast Asia Chapter of the UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network (EE-Net).

Significantly, the UNESCO EE-Net Southeast Asia Chapter operates under the distinguished Royal Patronage of His Royal Highness Tengku Amir Shah, the Crown Prince of Selangor, whose leadership continues to drive the region’s commitment to sustainable entrepreneurship and global diplomacy.

The visit marks a significant step forward in AiSED’s mission to bridge the commercial and academic sectors across the ASEAN-China corridor.

Strategic Roundtable with the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce

Our delegation was formally received by the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce, where a high-level roundtable was chaired by Mr. Zhang Fuming, Director of the Foreign Trade Division. The dialogue focused on:

• Market Access: Leveraging the unique advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port to facilitate trade for Southeast Asian enterprises.

• Cross-Border Cooperation: Aligning shared visions for entrepreneurship development and regional integration.

• Governmental Synergy: Strengthening the ties between Selangor and Hainan, building upon the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two regions.

Economic Engagement in Chengmai County

In Chengmai County, the delegation met with Mr. Wang Shangming, Executive Deputy County Magistrate, and senior representatives. These discussions centered on practical outcomes, including:

• Investment Facilitation: Creating pathways for trade cooperation and regional investment.

• Talent Development: Designing specialized entrepreneurship training programs to meet the growing interest in Malaysia-China engagement.

  

Advancing Academic and Industry Synergy at Hainan University

A formal symposium was held at Hainan University, chaired by Professor Yue Wen, Vice President of the university. In alignment with the UNESCO EE-Net framework, the session focused on:

• Mobility Programs: Enhancing talent development and student/faculty exchange.

• Industry-University Collaboration: Bridging the gap between academic research and commercial application to build future-ready entrepreneurs.

Looking Forward

AiSED extends its sincere appreciation to our counterparts in Hainan for their exceptional hospitality. As a follow-up to these productive sessions, we have extended invitations for reciprocal visits to Malaysia.

We remain committed to translating these high-level engagements into tangible, sustainable outcomes that benefit the entrepreneurship ecosystem across Southeast Asia and China.