The exhibition titled Friends afar: Commemorating the 620th Anniversary of Zheng He's Voyages to the Western Seas and China-Indonesia Cultural Exchange opens on July 11, 2025 at the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics, showcasing the journeys of Admiral Zheng He from China’s Ming dynasty.
Zheng He, also known as Cheng Ho, was renowned for his voyages across the seas of Asia, including Indonesia. The exhibition, with the theme of "Friends Afar", is divided into four major sections: "Maritime, the Great Voyage", "Thousands of Miles Silk Journey", "Mutual Learning of Civilizations", and "Carrying on, Sailing for the Future". The displayed items include treasure charts, celestial navigation charts, maritime maps, stone steles, porcelain, and pottery. It presents the grand scene of Zheng He's voyages to the West, the prosperous scene of the Maritime Silk Road, the integration and symbiosis of Chinese and Indonesian cultures, and a new chapter in the contemporary "Maritime Silk Road".
2025 marks the 620th anniversary of Zheng He's first voyage to the West, as well as the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, the 5th anniversary of the friendship between Shanghai and Jakarta, and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. At this memorial moment, the exhibition aims to review the magnificent journey of Zheng He's voyages to the West and his spirit of peace and mutual trust, and deepen the cultural ties and friendly cooperation between China and Indonesia in the new era.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with the museum in Shanghai. The voyages of Cheng Ho symbolize peace and openness — the very values we intend to spotlight through this exhibition,” Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno remarked in West Jakarta on the opening ceremony. He emphasized that the exhibition embodies the spirit of collaboration and the historical heritage shared by Indonesia and China. The event would further strengthen the enduring ties between the two countries by promoting cultural knowledge through art. He also highlighted plans to reciprocate the event by organizing a similar exhibition in Shanghai, China. “It is my hope for us to hold an exhibition in Shanghai in 2027, coinciding with the 500th anniversary of Jakarta,” he remarked.
The exhibition is organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Embassy of China in Indonesia, and the Zheng He Research Society. It is undertaken by the China Maritime Museum, the Shanghai Art Collection Museum, and the Jakarta Ceramic and Fine Arts Museum. The supporting organizations include China COSCO Shipping Group, Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, Shanghai Transport Commission, Special Capital Region of Jakarta Government of Indonesia, and Consulate General of Indonesia in Shanghai. The exhibition will open until August 11.
Source: Antara News, Embassy of the PRC in the Republic of Indonesia, Shanghai Government Website