Chinese actress Fan Bingbing was recently welcomed by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the King of Malaysia, during a royal meeting held at the palace in Johor on May 12.
The visit was linked to the promotion of the Malaysian film “Mother Bumi”, where Fan played the lead role. The meeting was also attended by the movie’s producer, director, and Fan’s manager, according to Malaysian media reports.
Photos shared on the king’s official Facebook page showed Fan presenting a framed poster of the film during the palace visit. The images quickly attracted attention online, especially among fans in Malaysia and China.
“Mother Bumi” Gains International Recognition
The film “Mother Bumi” has reportedly received international recognition through appearances and achievements at several major film events, including the Golden Horse Awards, the Tokyo International Film Festival, and the Far East Film Festival.
Fan Bingbing was awarded Best Actress at the 2025 Golden Horse Awards for her performance in the movie, further boosting the film’s profile across Asia.
The cast and filmmakers have been touring various parts of Malaysia throughout May as part of the promotional campaign ahead of the movie’s nationwide cinema release on May 14.
Industry observers noted that the royal audience reflects the growing collaboration between Malaysia’s tourism sector and international entertainment figures, particularly celebrities with large Chinese social media followings.
Fan Bingbing’s Growing Links With Malaysia
Over the past few years, Fan has developed increasingly close ties with Malaysia, especially the state of Malacca.
In 2024, she was appointed as Malacca’s Tourism Friendship Ambassador to support tourism campaigns connected to Visit Melaka Year 2024. Her appointment generated major online engagement across Chinese social media platforms, helping to raise awareness of Malaysian travel destinations among mainland Chinese tourists.
In 2025, Fan was also conferred the honorary title of “Datuk Kerhomat” in recognition of her contribution to promoting Malacca internationally.
Reports indicated that tourist arrivals from China to Malacca tripled between 2023 and 2024, with local authorities partly crediting Fan’s promotional influence and strong online presence.
The actress remains one of China’s most internationally recognised entertainment figures despite years of scrutiny and controversy surrounding her tax evasion case in 2018. Her renewed visibility in Southeast Asia has helped strengthen her public image regionally through film projects, tourism partnerships, and cultural events.