The Grand Voyage of Zheng He may inspire the construction of the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road
By Bu Yingna |
chinawatch.cn |
Updated: 2019-03-29 19:13
Reflecting on the maritime diplomacy of ancient China represented by Zheng He's voyages will help promoting China's extensive cooperation with neighboring countries in the future and building a more open and inclusive platform for regional cooperation, said a Hollywood producer.
On the morning of March 25, Mike Harris, internationally renowned explorer, writer and scholar of international maritime history, visited the Pangoal Institution and shared his views on the Grand Voyage of Zheng He and the development of the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.
[Photo/Pangoal]
In the early Ming Dynasty, China was one of the most developed countries in the world, and between 1405 and 1433, the Ming government sent Zheng He on seven voyages to the Western Ocean with diplomatic missions.
In Harris’ view, Zheng He’s exploration to the West was unprecedented.
“At the time, no country had ever sent such a huge fleet to sail in the ocean,” said Harris. So, it was the embodiment of China’s national strength, and in term of promoting cultural exchanges between China and countries along the route, the Grand Voyage of Zheng He is of great significance.
Nowadays, the world needs an open and inclusive attitude to build a platform for win-win cooperation more than ever. This year marks the sixth year since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched, and it has attracted more than 120 countries and international organizations around the world to actively participate in and support it.
Looking back, the Chinese maritime record of Zheng He's voyages to the West are not only a splendid history for Chinese civilization, but also a significant spiritual legacy of the Maritime Silk Road.
Harris said that the Belt and Road Initiative today has some similarities to Zheng He’s voyages hundreds of years ago.
Zheng He had visited more than 30 countries and territories in Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Africa during his voyages strengthening mutual communication and promoting cultural and economic exchanges with other countries in the world.
The construction and development of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is an important part of the Belt and Road initiative, which is not only about the spread of material wealth, but also the exchange of culture and ideas.
Therefore, to integrate the history legacy with the current strategy may bring unexpected positive effects.
Wang Xiaoyan contributed to this story.
Reflecting on the maritime diplomacy of ancient China represented by Zheng He's voyages will help promoting China's extensive cooperation with neighboring countries in the future and building a more open and inclusive platform for regional cooperation, said a Hollywood producer.
On the morning of March 25, Mike Harris, internationally renowned explorer, writer and scholar of international maritime history, visited the Pangoal Institution and shared his views on the Grand Voyage of Zheng He and the development of the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.
[Photo/Pangoal]
In the early Ming Dynasty, China was one of the most developed countries in the world, and between 1405 and 1433, the Ming government sent Zheng He on seven voyages to the Western Ocean with diplomatic missions.
In Harris’ view, Zheng He’s exploration to the West was unprecedented.
“At the time, no country had ever sent such a huge fleet to sail in the ocean,” said Harris. So, it was the embodiment of China’s national strength, and in term of promoting cultural exchanges between China and countries along the route, the Grand Voyage of Zheng He is of great significance.
Nowadays, the world needs an open and inclusive attitude to build a platform for win-win cooperation more than ever. This year marks the sixth year since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched, and it has attracted more than 120 countries and international organizations around the world to actively participate in and support it.
Looking back, the Chinese maritime record of Zheng He's voyages to the West are not only a splendid history for Chinese civilization, but also a significant spiritual legacy of the Maritime Silk Road.
Harris said that the Belt and Road Initiative today has some similarities to Zheng He’s voyages hundreds of years ago.
Zheng He had visited more than 30 countries and territories in Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Africa during his voyages strengthening mutual communication and promoting cultural and economic exchanges with other countries in the world.
The construction and development of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is an important part of the Belt and Road initiative, which is not only about the spread of material wealth, but also the exchange of culture and ideas.
Therefore, to integrate the history legacy with the current strategy may bring unexpected positive effects.
