An international seminar titled “The Global Civilization Initiative and the Spirit of Zheng He” was held in Jakarta on June 30, bringing together more than 60 academics, experts, lecturers, students, and practitioners from Indonesia and China to discuss the values of the Global Civilization Initiative and the relevance of Admiral Zheng He’s spirit in strengthening international communication.

The seminar, part of the cultural program “Zheng He’s Voyage: The Envoy of World Friendship,” was organized by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province.

During the forum, the establishment of the “China Newsweek South Asia Edition – Bridge Era International Communication Experts Base” was officially announced. The platform brings together more than 20 international communication experts and scholars from China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other countries to promote civilizational exchanges and international communication cooperation with a focus on South and Southeast Asia.

Professor Liu Liqiong from Kunming City University explained that the Global Civilization Initiative promotes stronger people-to-people exchanges and cross-cultural cooperation. She highlighted several practical collaborations between Yunnan and Indonesia, including the “Heart-to-Heart Connectivity – Yunnan” program in Bali, which supports green agriculture, as well as educational cooperation between Yunnan Normal University and Wenjiao Trilingual School in Bali.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thung Julan, a researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), noted that Zheng He’s voyages to Java, Sumatra, and other parts of the Indonesian archipelago left a legacy of friendship built on equality and mutual benefit. According to him, people-to-people relations form the fundamental basis for sustainable bilateral ties.

During the panel discussion, Professor Shan Xiaohong of Yunnan University stated that international communication is evolving toward shared narratives that embrace multiple civilizations. In China, Zheng He is regarded as a symbol of peace and openness, while in Indonesia he represents cultural integration and friendship. These different perspectives, she said, create a valuable shared memory that deserves to be promoted through collaboration between the two countries.

Christine Susanna Tjhin, Co-Founder of Gentala Institute and Director of Communications and Strategic Studies at Gentala Institute Indonesia, proposed establishing a joint working group involving universities, research institutions, and media organizations from Indonesia and China. The initiative would digitize historical archives related to Zheng He in Semarang, Cirebon, and other locations into a multilingual database accessible to the international community. She also expressed hope that Yunnan and Indonesia would continue strengthening long-term exchange mechanisms through cooperation between local governments and civil society.

The seminar reaffirmed the importance of Zheng He’s spirit as a bridge for intercultural dialogue while further strengthening Indonesia–China cooperation in education, culture, research, and international communication for the future.