08/08                                                                                               

The Embassy of Malaysia in France celebrates its
51st Anniversary of Malaysia’s Independence in Marseille

The Embassy of Malaysia in France will hold a reception in Marseille on Thursday, 9 October 2008, as part of its activities to celebrate the 51st anniversary of Malaysia’s independence on 31 August 2008.  The reception, hosted by H.E. Dato’ S. Thanarajasingam, Ambassador of Malaysia to France and his spouse, Datin Dr. Saradha Iyer, will be held at a leading hotel in Marseilles.

The National Day reception is expected to be attended by more than 200 guests and personalities such as senior officials from the Mairie of Marseilles, French government agencies, Consul Generals, captains of industry, media, education and cultural institutions as well as the Malaysian community in Marseilles and its surrounding area.  

Prior to the reception, the Tourism Malaysia office based in Paris will organise a travel seminar for tour agents in and around Marseille.  Malaysia will also hold a batik presentation and exhibition at the lobby of the Sofitel Marseilles Vieux Port Hotel on 9 October 2008.  Lovely and rich batik will be brought to Marseille by the Art and Design Faculty, Mara Technology University (UiTM), one of the top creative schools in the country.  There will also be a demonstration of how batik is made.

In 2007, Malaysia and France had celebrated its 50th anniversary of its diplomatic relations.  France was one of the first 16 countries which immediately established diplomatic ties following Malaysia’s independence in 1957.  Malaysia is very keen to develop its relations with Marseille, including to strengthen the port and shipping relations.  The Port of Marseille Authority (PMA) has established cooperation with the Port Klang Authority in Malaysia as their strategic partner in South East Asia, with the signing of the Sister Port Agreement (MOU) by both parties on 8th November 2001. 

Malaysia also intends to establish an Honorary Consulate of Malaysia in Marseilles to develop and deepen its relations with the port city.  Both expect to benefit from each other’s experience in promoting cultural understanding, as Marseille is set to assume its role as the European Cultural Capital in 2013. 

Embassy of Malaysia, Paris
25 September 2008