HISTORIANS URGED TO ASCERTAIN ANCIENT MELAKA-CHINA RELATIONS

MELAKA (Malaysia), July 5 (Bernama) -- Historians and academicians have been urged to make a resolution based on accurate historical facts on historical relations between the ancient Melaka Sultanate and the Chinese Empire which began in the early 15th century.

Governor of the state of Melaka Mohd Khalil Yaakob said they need to
conclude an accurate historical interpretation on relations between Melaka and
the Chinese Empire to determine whether certain differences were true or merely
concocted.

"The history recorded that the Melaka Sultanate begun forging relations with
China during the Ming Dynasty about 605 years ago (1405) and it also espoused
that Melaka then was frequently visited by Admiral Cheng Ho," he said when
opening the International Cheng Ho Asia-Africa Seminar here Monday.

Mohd Khalil also questioned the participants whether Cheng Ho's fleet
actually called at the Melaka port as it had just been opened then.

Therefore, he hoped the seminar could gather as much facts it could about
historical relations between the Melaka Sultanate and the Chinese Empire.

Cheng Ho, travelled to nearly 30 countries with a flotilla of 200 ships and
28,000 sailors and his voyages gave a profound impact to the maritime history as
well as bilateral relations and cultural exchanges between China and the
countries that he visited, including Melaka.

The three-day seminar attended by about 300 participants is organised
jointly by the Melaka Museums Corporation, Information Communication and
Culture Ministry, Department of Museums, International Association of Cheng Ho
and Cheng Ho Cultural Museum.
-- BERNAMA