When Cheng Ho’s Spirit Sets Sail Again in Jakarta

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - More than six centuries ago, Admiral Cheng Ho’s fleet crossed the seas toward the Indonesian archipelago. The explorer from Yunnan, China, led seven voyages to the Western Seas, with his ships stopping in Java six times.

Known in Indonesia as Sam Poo Kong, Cheng Ho is remembered not only as a sailor and imperial envoy, but also as a symbol of peace and friendship between China and Indonesia.

That legacy was brought back to life in Jakarta through the cultural exchange program The Journey of Admiral Cheng Ho: Ambassador of Friendship, held on June 30. More than 160 representatives from government, business, academia, cultural groups, and Chinese-Indonesian communities joined the two-day event.

Organized by the Information Office and Foreign Affairs Office of the Yunnan Provincial People’s Government, the program featured a cultural bazaar, creative poster exhibition, seminar, and the appointment of Indonesian and Chinese students as Friendship Ambassadors.

The event carried a shared message: Cheng Ho’s values of peace, openness, and inclusiveness remain relevant today and can continue to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Chen Wu, Education Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, said Indonesia-China relations have continued to grow through cooperation in politics, the economy, culture, maritime affairs, and security. He pointed to projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Two Countries, Twin Parks initiative as examples of collaboration that has benefited both sides.

Wen Liao, Vice Chairman of the Office for the Development of Spiritual Civilization of the Yunnan Provincial Committee, said Yunnan and Indonesia now share cooperation in modern agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, education, culture, and environmental conservation.

Indonesia also continues to preserve Cheng Ho’s historical footprint, especially through the Sam Poo Kong complex in Semarang. Acting Deputy for Event Development at the Ministry of Tourism, Vinsensius Jemadu, said Cheng Ho’s maritime route could become an important foundation for cultural tourism and stronger exchanges between the people of Indonesia and China.

One of the highlights of the program was the handover of a 71-centimeter replica of Cheng Ho’s treasure ship from Yunnan to the Sam Poo Kong Foundation in Semarang. Crafted by traditional Kunming ship-model makers Fu Kunxiang and Wang Li, the model reflects the design of a Ming Dynasty vessel.

For Wang Li, the miniature ship is more than a cultural gift. It is a reminder that friendship can travel across seas, generations, and cultural differences—just as Cheng Ho’s spirit continues to sail between Indonesia and China.