Xi story: A tale of enduring China-Oman friendship

When President Xi Jinping met Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman in Beijing on Monday, he recalled a celebrated story in the history of China-Oman relations, featuring two legendary navigators who, centuries apart, sailed across vast oceans to reach each other's shores.

During the talks, Xi spoke of the Chinese navigator Zheng He, who visited Oman on four of his seven ocean voyages during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and an Omani navigator, Abu Obeida, who traveled thousands of miles to China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Behind these historic voyages lies a millennium-long friendship between the two nations.

A monument to the ship Sohar in a park in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. (Photo: People's Daily Online)

In the middle of the 8th century, Omani navigator Abu Obeida set sail from a bustling Middle Eastern port in Oman aboard a dhow named the Sohar. After months at sea, he finally reached the distant shores of Guangzhou, China.

He returned with silk, porcelain and spices, opening up trade routes between China and the Arab world. His journey was later adapted for the tales of the classic fictional character Sindbad, in the work "the Arabian Nights."

Centuries later, another great navigator once again made history.

This photo taken on May 30, 2023 shows the Zheng He Monument in Salalah, Oman. (Photo: Xinhua)

In the 15th century, Chinese admiral Zheng He commanded what was then the world's largest fleet on seven diplomatic expeditions. He sailed across towering waves to Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and the eastern coast of Africa.

His fleet visited Oman four times, bringing Chinese porcelain, silk and tea to its shores and returning with frankincense and other local spices, further strengthening the maritime connection between the two countries.

The long-standing friendship between China and Oman is reflected in the continuing story of the ship Sohar.

In November 1980, the Omani sailing ship Sohar, modeled on traditional wooden vessels, retraced Abu Obeida's route, arriving in Guangzhou in July 1981.

In December 1995, Oman funded a monument commemorating the Sohar in Guangzhou. In May 2023, the Zheng He Monument was completed in the Omani coastal city of Salalah.

Standing on opposite shores, the two monuments symbolize the enduring bond between China and the Arab states, which has weathered a millennium of history and continues to embark on new chapters.

(Produced by Chen Lidan and Xie Runjia)