Chef Loke Hoi Weng from UCSI University and the supervising teacher from Sergili Professional College of Tashkent, Feruza Kamalova introducing the special dishes prepared by the respective students from the two institutions

Kuala Lumpur, 17^th February, 2012 - In conjunction with the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Uzbekistan and Malaysia the delegation from Uzbekistan headed by the Deputy Chairman of Council of Friendship Societies and Cultural and Educational Relations with Foreign Countries of Uzbekistan Mr. Zakir Abidov will be visiting Malaysia together with Director of the Sergili Professional College of Tashkent Mr. Az'am Holmurodov alongside 7 teachers and students of this college.

Malaysia is an important partner of Uzbekistan in South East Asia with the economic and cultural relations between the two countries developing dynamically. Agreements signed during the visits of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan I.Karimov to Malaysia in 1992 and 2005, and reciprocal visits of the heads of the country and the government of Malaysia to their country in 1993, 2003 and 2008 make a legal basis of the mutual relations.

Subsequently, the "Uzbekistan-Malaysia" Friendship Society founded in 1998 further supports the development and strengthening of these relations. Among the main tasks of the Friendship Society are developing friendship relations between nations of Uzbekistan and Malaysia, supporting cultural and educational communications between the two countries, informing Malaysian society and providing trustful and full information about reforms and achievements in Uzbekistan.

 Since recent years the Friendship Society is showing an increase in efficiency of its activities. Thus, visits from representatives of public organizations play a positive role as information interchange about economic, social and cultural potential of the two countries are adjusted accordingly during these discussions.

The Friendship Society organizes various cultural-educational activities devoted to themes about Uzbekistan and Malaysia. These activities serve to enrich the knowledge of youth in our countries.

In line with this, the "Uzbekistan-Malaysia" Friendship Society also cooperates with the Embassy of Malaysia in Uzbekistan, Malaysian companies such as JV "ABDA Travel" and representatives of "Petronas" in Uzbekistan.

As a result of this, the Alumni of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program was founded within the Friendship Society in 2006. Youth of Uzbekistan who attended the programme have an opportunity to participate in activities organised by the "Uzbekistan-Malaysia" Friendship Society within these Alumni.

In regards to this, the teachers and students of Sergili Professional College, specialized in Uzbek cuisine will be demonstrating the preparation of some Uzbek national dishes in UCSI University together with the students of UCSI University that will be preparing the Malaysian dishes at their very own fine dining restaurant – The Quad. The restaurant is part of UCSI Group's Le Quadri Hotel operated by UCSI Hotels, which exclusively caters for business travellers offering comfort at an affordable cost.

In line with UCSI University's Praxis University approach, designed to provide gilt-edged opportunities for students to apply their knowledge at the workplace, such Praxis Centres such as The Quad, exposes students to fundamental industrial practices and the underlying forces that make them work.

Designed – and facilitated – by practitioners for practitioners, this is achieved through work-based learning modules which fuse the acquisition of professional experience with one's studies.

Also attending the event are, H.E. Zeljko Bosnjak, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia; H.E. Vincent Piket, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission; Dato' Steve Day, Publisher/ Editor in Chief, Organising Chairman of MIGF and Mr Giovanni Koromilas, Chef Sassorosso Italian Restaurant.