China's #MaritimeDay falls on July 11 each year to commemorate the voyages of the ancient Chinese navigator #ZhengHe, whose story has been shared by President #XiJinping on many occasions. Now, Zheng's epic journey to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, as far as the Red Sea in West Africa, has become a business card for China's friendly exchanges with other countries. | Xi's Moments

Chinese Treasure Fleet: Adventures of Zheng He Between 1405 and 1433, Admiral Zheng He of China led seven epic voyages to more than 30 countries, including Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Kenya and Tanzania. The admiral and his crew gathered knowledge and wealth from Indochina to Africa for China's Ming empire. These voyages were the biggest naval expeditions mounted at the time. Zheng He was bigger than life and could have changed the course of history. But after the seven voyag

Zheng He led a fleet of nearly 300 ships that reached the shores of Africa centuries before Columbus. His armada was a floating city with treasure ships over 400 feet that dwarfed the three vessels later used by Columbus. Between 1405 and 1433 AD he commanded seven voyages for the Ming Dynasty emperor, crossing the Indian Ocean and visiting Southeast Asia, India, the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. His mission was to forge diplomatic ties and trade links, returning with spices, gems and even