RIYADH, 3 July 2006 — The Kingdom’s “Look East Policy” will be taking on a new dimension with the Chinese Embassy organizing a two-weeklong cultural exhibition that opens at King Abdul Aziz Historical Center in Riyadh today.

The inauguration will coincide with the opening of the Arab Cultural Festival sponsored by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information in Beijing.

The show in Riyadh — Envoy of Peace from China — is being “organized within the framework of current cultural cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China,” said an official from the Ministry of Culture and Information.

“The activity is aimed to demonstrate the time-honored cultural and civic exchanges between China and the Arab countries and thus promote China’s diplomacy of peace and ideal for universal harmony,” Chinese Embassy Information Counselor Pan Liang told Arab News.

The exhibition is dedicated to Zheng He, the great Chinese Muslim mariner, who led a fleet of discovery from China to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Americas some 600 years ago.

Between 1405 and 1433 AD, Zheng He utilized the most advanced nautical technology of his time to lead a huge fleet of Chinese sailing ships on seven major transoceanic expeditions.

“It is something special for the Arab audience that Zheng He was a Muslim and when his fleet reached Jeddah, he performed a pilgrimage in Makkah,” Liang said.

The show, which will display artifacts, cultural relics and pictures through 81 content panels and 28 exhibits, has toured Yemen and the UAE and will subsequently visit Morocco and Kuwait.

“It is hoped that through this exhibition of Zheng He’s great accomplishments, people around the world may come to understand better the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people, their determination to conquer the challenges of nature and the enterprising and peace-loving values that form the foundation of Chinese culture,” Liang added.