PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s book ‘Rethinking Ourselves: Justice, Reform, and Ignorance in Postnormal Times’ has been officially published in Mandarin, with Anwar describing the translation as an opportunity to deepen exchanges between Malaysia and China.
“This is a noble endeavour that I hope will broaden the scope for the meeting and exchange of ideas, cultures, and civilisations,” he said in a Facebook post.
The global launch of the Chinese edition was held in Hangzhou yesterday, with the book published by World Affairs Press under China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Translated by Dr Yan Lijin, the Mandarin edition has an initial print run of about 5,000 copies.
Anwar said the book was neither a memoir nor an autobiography but a collection of reflections on colonialism and imperialism, the rise of independent nations and efforts to define and refine national identity.
He said it also reflected efforts to build nation states and a future anchored in justice, humanity and shared prosperity.
“Indeed, the relationship between Malaysia and China teaches us that differences do not necessarily lead to conflict,” he said.
Anwar also highlighted the centuries-old links between the societies and civilisations of both countries through trade, culture, mutual respect and the exchange of knowledge.
He said such bridges of understanding should continue to be strengthened in a world increasingly divided by prejudice and distrust.
“Moreover, I am convinced that we must not be trapped in an East-West dichotomy. From Confucius and Mencius to Shakespeare—and spanning everything from Islamic traditions to the intellectual legacies of diverse civilisations—what we must uphold is the wisdom that elevates human dignity: a steadfast commitment to truth, justice, compassion, and mutual respect among people,” he said.
“Ultimately, the defining question of our time is not merely about who hails from the East or the West, or one's race or creed; rather, it is about the extent to which we can rediscover the humanity that unites us and build a universal order that is just and equitable for all,” he said.
The original English edition was published in October 2025 by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia.
Anwar’s three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou concludes as China remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching US$113.82 billion (RM456.68 billion) from January to August this year. - September 24, 2026
