A staff member at Taicang Port in Jiangsu province briefs foreign journalists about the port's operations on Oct 27 during the 2023 Hi Jiangsu Media Trip. The event has been held seven times since its launch in 2015 as a platform to introduce Jiangsu to overseas audiences. CHINA DAILY
Maritime legacy continues to extend to distant shores
At Zheng He Park in Taicang, a county-level city in Jiangsu province, a replica of famed Chinese navigator and explorer Zheng He's large ship is anchored near the shore of a lake.
Setting sail from Taicang, Zheng had led a fleet of ships on seven voyages during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The voyages took the fleet to destinations in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and as far away as Africa, and the mariners visited more than 30 countries and regions.
Zheng's voyages propelled the ancient maritime Silk Road forward. The fleet brought to its destinations Chinese silk, porcelain and tea, and it shared knowledge of farming, textile production and fishing techniques with local people, forging friendly relations wherever it went.
In return, Zheng's fleet brought back treasures such as jewels, spices, medicinal herbs and exotic animals.
Supachai Wuthichuwong, an editor at Thailand's Manager Media Group, noted that "Zheng He's fleet visited Thailand, where temples now commemorate his journeys, fostering a deep connection between China and Thailand".
On Oct 27, as part of the 2023 Hi Jiangsu Media Trip, the Thai editor and other journalists visited the Zheng He Memorial Hall in Taicang, delving into the city's cultural traits of peace, cooperation and openness.
The media trip, co-organized by the Information Office and Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu's provincial government and China Daily, brought together journalists from countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Vietnam, all of which are involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
The journalists visited the cities of Nanjing, Yangzhou, Lianyungang and Taicang from Oct 22 to 28 to learn about Jiangsu's deep integration into the development of the BRI over the past decade.
Pham Thu Thuy, editor of Voice of Vietnam, the Vietnamese national radio station, participated in the event, acknowledging China's historical commitment to enhancing economic and cultural exchanges with the world — a commitment that continues to this day.
A replica of Chinese navigator and explorer Zheng He's large ship is anchored near the shore of a lake at Zheng He Park in Taicang on Oct 27. Taicang was the starting point of Zheng's seven voyages, a landmark event for the ancient maritime Silk Road. CHINA DAILY
Zheng He's seven voyages are a legacy of ancient China's peaceful cooperation and friendly relations with countries worldwide, contributing to the flourishing of the ancient maritime Silk Road. This philosophy of peaceful development and mutual benefit endures, from the ancient maritime Silk Road to the present-day BRI.
Jiangsu sits at the intersection of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which together form the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, Jiangsu has actively leveraged its geographical advantages and played a vital role in the BRI.
Mohamed Beiji, deputy editor-in-chief and senior journalist at China-Arab TV, said that Jiangsu has made significant contributions to the BRI, thanks to its well-developed rail and maritime transportation networks.
The media trip included stops at the Nanjing International Rail Freight Express, the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base and Taicang Port. The visits offered firsthand insights into Jiangsu's efforts to promote connectivity and trade among countries participating in the BRI.
According to data from Nanjing Customs, China-Europe freight trains from Jiangsu have reached nearly 80 cities in Europe and Asia. From January to September this year, Jiangsu's China-Europe freight line operated a total of 1,667 trips with total cargo value of 23.84 billion yuan ($3.26 billion). This represents a year-on-year increase of 13.4 percent in the number of trains and a 13.5 percent increase in cargo value.
Actors perform rod puppetry in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, on Oct 25 as part of the 2023 media trip. Journalists from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative visited Jiangsu from Oct 22 to 28. CHINA DAILY
Port development is seen as crucial to promoting land-sea interconnectivity and ensuring the success of domestic and international trade under the BRI.
For example, Taicang Port has become one of the busiest ports along the Yangtze River, involving 219 routes and offering comprehensive coverage of domestic coastal regions and international access.
Over the past decade, Jiangsu's imports and exports with countries involved in the BRI have expanded from 1.16 trillion yuan in 2013 to 2.23 trillion yuan in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 6.5 percent, data from Nanjing Customs showed.
Abdul Wajid Khan, a research scholar and journalist at Independent News Pakistan who participated in the media trip, said, "Jiangsu will further increase its trade and economic relationship with countries involved in the BRI." It will also help them "modernize industrial sectors with the help of its high-tech industrial capacity", he added.
Furthermore, Jiangsu spares no effort in promoting cultural exchanges between countries participating in the BRI. Jiangsu's culture is something to take pride in, and Jiangsu should focus on enhancing its cultural outreach to the world, said Pham Thu Thuy, the Voice of Vietnam editor.
During the media trip, foreign journalists visited locations such as the Nanjing City Wall Museum, the Yangzhou Opera Theater and Lianyungang Old Street, allowing them to personally experience the rich historical and contemporary culture of Jiangsu.
Mohamed Beiji, the China-Arab TV journalist, said, "The trip is a manifestation of Jiangsu's efforts to promote cultural exchanges."
Meanwhile, though the replica of Zheng He's ship may never set sail, the explorer's legacy continues with the ports of Taicang and Lianyungang, which remain bustling as they facilitate the transportation of goods and spread the principles of peaceful cooperation and mutual benefit to distant shores.
