More than 600 years ago, the great navigator Zheng He—who came from the shores of Dianchi Lake in Yunnan, China—made seven voyages to the Western Seas, with his fleet calling at Java, Indonesia, six times. On June 30, following in the wake of this friendship envoy affectionately known by the Indonesian people as “Sam Poo Kong,” the “Zheng He Odyssey: Global Friendship Envoy” series of cultural exchange activities was launched in Jakarta, Indonesia, attracting over 160 participants from the political, business, academic, and cultural sectors of both China and Indonesia, as well as representatives of overseas Chinese associations.
The two-day event, organized by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, will feature more than 10 activities, including the donation ceremony of the Zheng He treasure ship model, a cultural bazaar and a creative poster exhibition, the International Symposium on the Global Civilization Initiative and the Spirit of Zheng He, and the signing ceremony of young friendship envoys between Chinese and Indonesian youth. The event aims to draw on the spirit of Zheng He as a binding thread, promote the values of peace, friendship, openness, and inclusiveness, and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia.
Chen Wu, Education Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Indonesia, noted that over the 76 years since the establishment of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties, cooperation across the “Five Pillars”—politics, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchange, maritime affairs, and security—has advanced in parallel, with landmark achievements such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative benefiting the people of both nations. He expressed the hope that both countries would draw wisdom from Zheng He’s voyages and become inheritors of the spirit of peace, promoters of pragmatic cooperation, and sowers of friendship for generations to come.
Wen Liao, Full-time Deputy Director of the Spiritual Civilization Office of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, noted that Yunnan, the hometown of Zheng He, shares a profound bond with Indonesia. The exchanges between the two sides have evolved from cultural interactions and trade exchanges into a new stage of institutionalized, multi-layered, and all-around deep integration, with cooperation covering areas such as modern agriculture, biomedicine, clean energy, cultural and educational exchange, and ecological conservation. He expressed the hope that both sides would further carry forward the spirit of Zheng He and write a new chapter of friendship in the new era.
Mr. Vinsensius Jemadu, Deputy for Events’ Organizer and Development, kementerian pariwisata republik Indonesia, said that numerous historical sites and folk memories associated with Zheng He could be found across the Indonesian archipelago—including Semarang—which have become important cultural and tourism resources for Indonesia. He expressed his hope that cultural and tourism brands such as the “Zheng He Route” would drive people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and that the occasion of the final year of the Five-Year Plan of Action for Indonesia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2026 would serve as an opportunity to bring bilateral cultural, tourism, and people-to-people cooperation to a new level.
As a key component of the event, a 71-centimeter-long and 60-centimeter-high Zheng He treasure ship model was donated by Yunnan, China, to the Sam Poo Kong Foundation in Semarang, Indonesia. The model was crafted by Fu Kunxiang and Wang Li, inheritors of the intangible cultural heritage of ancient ship model craftsmanship in Kunming. Based on the design of the Ming Dynasty treasure ship, it follows the sharp-bottomed, broad-hulled Fuchuan (traditional Fujian-type sailing vessel) ship type, featuring nine watertight bulkhead compartments and a keel structure, scaled to recreate the vessel’s wave-defying majesty.
Wang Li expressed her hope that this “token of friendship” would carry the bond between the two nations and carry the spirit of Zheng He forward into the new era.
Zhang Chaolong, Chairman of the Sam Poo Kong Foundation in Semarang, Indonesia, noted that Sam Poo Kong—located in Semarang, Central Java—was built by local residents in memory of Zheng He. He said that the ship model, coming from Zheng He’s hometown of Yunnan, carries special significance and would be cherished as another testament to the friendly exchanges between Indonesia and China.
China-Indonesia cultural and artistic performances were also held at the venue, with performers from both countries sharing the stage. The Yunnan performance troupe from China presented the folk dance “Silk Road Nanyang · Bamboo Fence Whisper” and a medley of traditional Yunnan folk music, while Indonesian artists performed traditional dances including “Tarian Nusantara” (Nusantara dance)—using song and dance as a medium to renew the bonds of friendship.
Alongside the performances, the event also featured a cultural bazaar and a creative poster exhibition. At the bazaar, Chinese and Indonesian guests experienced hands-on traditional crafts including Dongba papermaking, tie-dye, and Dai brocade weaving, while savoring Yunnan Pu’er tea and Yunnan Arabica coffee. At the poster exhibition, The Voyages of Zheng He (part)—a monumental traditional Chinese painting created by renowned Chinese artist Zhong Kaitian over 13 years—was displayed alongside 30 award-winning posters from the “AI World Heritage & Zheng He Legacy” creative poster design competition. Traditional brushwork and AI-powered creativity converged to infuse Zheng He’s cultural legacy with both classical elegance and futuristic vision.