Yao Mingde, an official in charge of the commemorative activities, said the program will last from now to 2005. It consists of marine navigation knowledge contests, lectures, summercamps, seminars, commemorative meetings, exhibitions and international marine fairs.

From 1405 to 1433, Zheng's fleet made seven trips to some 30 countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and Africa.

Marine specialists believe Zheng's fleet surpassed all other marine navigators of his time in scale, sophistication, technologyand organizational skills in his seven sea trips, which were a great event in the world's marine navigation history.

Yao said the commemorative activities were aimed at invigorating the spirit of the nation, publicizing China's fine traditions of peace loving and good neighborliness, and promoting the development of its marine navigation.

"The theme of the commemorative events is 'Love the motherland,foster good neighborly relations and advance navigation technology'," said Yao.

China is a big marine nation with a marine shipping capacity ofmore than 50 million dwt. Some 90 percent of China's foreign tradeis based on marine transportation.

Currently, Chinese ports have been linked with more than 360 ports in the world.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2003)