Six countries to take part in Zheng He celebrations
Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang
Six countries are slated to take part in an international exhibition as part of the celebrations to mark the 600th anniversary of Admiral Zheng He's voyage in Semarang from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7.
They are Malaysia, Singapore, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Japan and the Malaysian state of Malacca.
A total of 225 exhibition stands have been prepared in the Central Java Trade and Promotion Center (PRPP), reserved for foreign companies as well as participants from 32 provinces around the country.
Twenty-eight municipalities and regencies from across Central Java have also said they will participate in the exhibition.
"The exhibition is scheduled to be officially opened by Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu on Wednesday. This is only a trade exhibition, so there's no target for retail transactions. Perhaps, long-term deals might be struck during the event," said the exhibition's coordinator, Benita Arijani, from the Capung Organizer firm.
The international trade expo will run through Aug. 3 to Aug. 7. Various foreign and domestic products will be exhibited, ranging from household to industrial products.
The promoter will also organize arts performances, such as a nasyid (Islamic acappela singing) contest, a bonsai exhibition, a display of ancient artifacts connected with Admiral Zheng He and a photo display highlighting the work of National Geographic photojournalist Michael Yamashita.
The promoter estimates that up to 100,000 people will visit the exhibition.
Sindu Dharmali, the chairman of the Zheng He 600th anniversary organizing committee, disclosed that the preparations for the event were 95 percent complete.
"All that remains are the finishing touches, especially at the PRPP and the Sam Poo Kong temple in Gedung Batu. Everything's ready at the Tay Kak Sie temple," said Sindu.
Central Java Governor Mardiyanto has also said that his office will provide full support for the event, the preparations for which have been underway for the past two years.
"I hope the event will produce added value economically, socially and culturally for the people of Semarang and Central Java, and promote religious harmony and social cohesiveness," he said.
He also urged the local tourism agency to promote the event through the media in the remaining days before the start of the event. However, information about the celebration appears not to have permeated into the wider community.
Zheng He, also called Cheng Ho, was a Chinese Muslim admiral and explorer whose voyages 600 years ago are renowned. As a trade and political emissary of the Chinese emperor, he and his 27,000 men in some 200 ships traveled far and wide over a period of 28 years in the 15th century.
The people of Semarang are more familiar with the Chinese New Year celebrations than Zheng He. Many star-rated and budget hotels, fully booked by guests attending the celebrations, have not installed Chinese lanterns -- something that they usually do for the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Activities connected with the Zheng He celebrations are only noticeable in the Chinatown area, especially at the Tay Kak Sie and Sam Poo Kong temples, and the PRPP area where the international expo will be held.
Outside these areas, there is little to remind people of the historical value of Zheng He.
Some 200,000 of the 1.3 million inhabitants of Semarang are of Chinese descent, but most of the elderly do not know who Zheng He really was.