RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The spirit of friendship inherited from Admiral Cheng Ho more than six centuries ago was revived through the appointment of Chinese and Indonesian students as Friendship Ambassadors. Eight students from Kunming City College and Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia were paired one-on-one under the “Cheng Ho’s Voyage: Ambassador of World Friendship” Yunnan, China–Indonesia program.

The appointment ceremony was held at Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia in Jakarta on July 1, 2026, and attended by nearly 200 lecturers and students from universities in Indonesia and China. The event was part of a cultural exchange program initiated by the Yunnan Provincial Government Information Office and the Yunnan Provincial Government Foreign Affairs Office.

On the same occasion, Kunming City College and Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding, or MoU. The partnership covers the development of Mandarin language education, student exchanges, and cultural exchange programs between the two universities.

Wen Liao, Deputy Director of the Spiritual Civilization Office of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee, said the program continues the legacy of friendship established by Admiral Cheng Ho, who sailed to the Indonesian archipelago several times more than 600 years ago. Cheng Ho is remembered as a sailor who promoted peace, provided medical assistance to local communities, and built friendly relations with people in the regions he visited.

According to Wen Liao, the values brought by Cheng Ho remain relevant to young people today. He expressed hope that the students appointed as Friendship Ambassadors would continue to communicate, learn from one another, and pass on the message of peace and cross-border friendship to future generations.

Yu Zhuqing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of Kunming City College, said the university has a historical connection with Cheng Ho, who came from Yunnan. Over the years, Kunming City College has also actively promoted open education and international exchanges through visits by students, academics, and arts groups from various countries.

He said the Friendship Ambassador program could provide a platform for students from both countries to get to know one another more closely. Through direct interaction, Chinese and Indonesian students are expected not only to broaden their cultural perspectives, but also to develop stronger mutual understanding as relations between the two countries continue to grow.

Vice Rector II of Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, Dr. Yusup Hidayat, S.Ag., M.H., said Admiral Cheng Ho has long been known in Indonesia as a figure who brought peace, trade, and friendship. He added that Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia has extensive experience in building educational cooperation with China, including through the establishment of the Confucius Institute with Fujian Normal University in 2010.

In addition to Mandarin language learning, the cooperation has also included sending students to continue their studies in China, exchanges with universities in Beijing, Shanghai, and several other cities, as well as hundreds of Chinese cultural experience activities. The Friendship Ambassador program is expected to give Indonesian youth more opportunities to learn about China firsthand, while also allowing Chinese students to better understand Indonesia as a warm and diverse country.

Kunming City College student representative Liu Xuanyu said his visit to Indonesia had shown him that the country is more than just a tourist destination. He discovered Indonesia’s rich musical and dance traditions, which he found particularly appealing, and said he hoped to continue interacting with Indonesian students to introduce the cultures of both countries to a wider audience.

Meanwhile, Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia student, Jihan said Mandarin, has become one of the gateways to understanding China, which is now increasingly present in the daily lives of Indonesians. She hopes her role as a Friendship Ambassador will help improve her Mandarin skills while broadening her understanding of Chinese society and culture.