Background

On 28 June 2005, the State Post Bureau will issue a three-piece set of commemorative stamps, "The 600th Anniv. of Zheng He's Voyages to Western Seas", with a total face value of 2.40 yuan. A souvenir sheet was issued at the same time, with a face value of 6 yuan. The pictures on the stamps are:"Portrait of Zheng He", "Good-Neighborly Relations", and "Scientific Navigatioin", respectively, and the souvenir sheet is titled "The 600th Anniv. of Zheng He's Voyages to Western Seas".

Zheng He (AD1371---AD1433), a native of Kunyang Prefecture (the present Jinning County in Kunming), Yunana Province, was a world-famous navigator in history. From 1405 to 1433 (in the Ming Dynasty), Zheng He led his huge fleet to travel across the high seas 7 times. This great undertaking in world navigation history demonstrated the advanced shipbuilding and navigation technology of ancient China, as well as the Chinese people's braveness in exploratioin, dauntlessness and persistence in the face of difficulty and adversity, and traditional love for peace and friendship with the neighboring countries. The commemoration of the great historical voyages to western seas is of great significance in promoting the Chinese national spirit and building a harmonious society.

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