BEIJING: Nasi lemak, durian and satay are very much sought after by Chinese nationals in this city and the embassy communities at the Malaysia Truly Asia Festival (MTAF) 2022 Food Week that kicked off yesterday.

A visitor, Zhou Xin, 55, who found out about the programme from a friend, said he was astonished to see various types of food with exciting looks and different flavours being offered at the event, which will be held until Aug 30.

While happily showing off a durian fruit he got at the food festival, Zhou also expressed his desire to visit Malaysia once his country's borders are fully open.

"I have never been to Malaysia. Wherever I go, I will try the local cuisine. If a Malaysian friend can help me to find good food there, I think my trip will be fruitful," he said, adding that he had tasted chicken rice and nasi lemak.

A buffet spread of over 50 types of food and kuih-muih (traditional cakes) greeted about 200 people who attended the programme at the China World Hotel in the heart of Beijing city yesterday.

Among the highlights are nasi tomato, Ipoh chicken rice, beef rendang, roti jala, roti canai, ais kacang, kuih ketayap, kuih seri muka and char kuey teow.

Austrian ambassador to China, Andreas Riecken, said that durian-based products such as ice cream and tiramisu have a very delicious and unique taste which should be tasted by Chinese nationals who come to the Food Week.

Meanwhile, Malaysian ambassador to China, Raja Datuk Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, who launched the programme, said it serves as a window for Chinese people to get to know Malaysia better through its cuisine.

"We want them to taste authentic food to market Malaysia as a tourist destination after China's borders are fully opened," he explained.

The Food Week is a part of the MTAF 2022 organised by the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing with the support of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (MAYCHAM), a non-profit social organisation, from Aug 15 to 31.

Past programmes included the Peranakan Art Exhibition and the 17th Palm Oil Health and Nutrition Forum, while a National Day reception will be held on Aug 31 to mark the end of the MTAF 2022 series of events.

-- BERNAMA