With a gathering of distinguished guests, "Miles Apart, Close at Heart-The Exhibition Commemorating the 620th Anniversary of Cheng Ho's Voyages:  China-Indonesia Cultural Exchange Exhibition" grandly opened on the evening of July 11 at the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Jointly hosted by the Chinese Association For International Understanding, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Indonesia, and the Zheng He Research Association, the exhibition is co-organized by the Shanghai Art Collection Museum, China Maritime Museum, and Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics. China COSCO Shipping  Corporation Ltd. serves as a co-hosting unit. Strong support was also received from various institutions including the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, the Department of Culture of the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Shanghai.

Under the theme Miles Apart, Close at Heart, the exhibition presents nearly one hundred treasured items from various cultural institutions in both China and Indonesia, offering a comprehensive display of Cheng Ho's seven epic voyages and the deep-rooted history of China-Indonesian cultural exchanges.

The opening ceremony drew a distinguished gathering of guests. Among the attendees were Zhou Kan, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia; H. Rano Karno, Vice Governor of  DKI Jakarta; Ali Maulana Hakim, Assistant to the Governor of DKI Jakarta; Wang Siping, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia; M. Miftahulloh Tamary, Head of the Department of Culture , Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta; Uus Kuswanto, Mayor of West Jakarta; Indira Estiyanti Nurjadin, Executive Director of the Indonesia Heritage Agency; Elsa Fransisca, Deputy Director of the International Tourism Marketing for Greater China, Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia; Meilisa Putri, Deputy Director of the Digital Business, Ministry of Creative Economy of Indonesia; Rosyid, Director of the National Museum of Indonesia; Hu Muqing, President of the Shanghai Art Collection Museum; Wang Yu, Deputy Director of the China Maritime Museum; Sri Kusumawati, Head of the Museum Management Unit of the Cultural Department of Jakarta and Director of the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics; Wang Wei, General Manager of COSCO Shipping Lines Indonesia, along with many other esteemed Chinese and Indonesian guests.

Toward the end of the ceremony, Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, made a special visit to the exhibition site after completing official duties, paying tribute to the great navigator Cheng Ho.

Many distingushed guests attended the ceremony

Hu Muqing, Chief Curator and President of Shanghai Art Collection Museum, the organizer of the ehxibition hosted the exhibition

Welcome Remarks by M. Miftahulloh Tamary 

Head of Department of Culture,

 Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta

Remarks by Wang Yu

Deputy Director of China Maritime Museum Video Remarks by Zhu Bixin,

President of Zheng He Research AssociationVideo Remarks by Ai Ping,

Vice-president of Chinese Association for International UnderstandingRemarks by Rano Karno,

Vice Governor of DKI JakartaRemarks by Zhou Kan,

Minister of the Chinese Embassy in IndonesiaShanghai Delegation exchanged gifts with 

Jakarta Provincial GovernmentDistinguished guests launched the exhibition

After the opening ceremony, the guests enthusiastically visited the exhibition. Immersed in a space where history and culture intertwined, many paused at length before the exhibits, delving into the remarkable voyages of Cheng Ho and the profound ties of friendship between China and Indonesia. 

This exhibition also serves as a celebratory event marking several important milestones, including the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.

Other guests at the opening ceremony included Pan Wenliang, First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia; Huang Dexin, Chairman of the Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneur Association; Muhammad Ikbal, Director of the General Affairs of the Indonesia Heritage Agency; John Fentriyana, Head of Protocol for the Jakarta Government Secretariat; Lita Rahmiati, Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Center, Region 8; Esti Utami, Director of the Jakarta History Museum; Misari, Director of the Jakarta Maritime Museum; Yiyok Herlambang, Chairperson of the Jakarta Branch of the Indonesian Museum Association; Hari Nugraha, Director of the Bank Indonesia Museum, as well as representatives from Chinese and Indonesian media.

To better communicate the exhibition to the public and deepen cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia, Mr. Karno, Vice Governor of DKI Jakarta, specially hosted a media press conference for the exhibition. A bunch of mainstream Indonesian media visited the exhibition in depth, conducting interviews and filming on-site to vividly capture and present the full scope of the exhibition.

Exhibition Dates：July 11- Aug 11

Exhibition Location: Museum of Fine Arts & Ceramics, Jakarta.