Cheng Ho, also known as Zheng He, was a Chinese eunuch and diplomat renowned for his voyages across the seas of Asia, including to Indonesia, where he is widely recognized as a Muslim admiral from China.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Shanghai Museum. 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 Friday.
He emphasized that the exhibition, taking place from July 11 to August 11 at the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics, embodies the spirit of collaboration and the historical heritage shared by Indonesia and China.
The deputy governor expressed hope that the event would further strengthen the enduring ties between the two countries by promoting cultural knowledge through art.
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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.
Meanwhile, Head of the Jakarta Culture Office Mochamad Miftahulloh Tamary noted that the expo is displaying 50 featured items from both China and Indonesia.
“These items include treasure charts, celestial navigation charts, maritime maps, stone steles from the Ming dynasty, porcelain, and pottery,” he explained.
He also echoed Rano’s sentiment, emphasizing that the Jakarta government is partnering with China not only to showcase these collections but also to foster intercultural understanding and help deepen Indonesia-China relations.
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Translator: Lia W, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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