Historical facts about exchanges between ancient China and Southeast Asia

First of all, during the Han Dynasty, my country had close trade relations with Vietnam. China’s ironware, farming and water conservancy technologies were introduced to Vietnam, which significantly improved Vietnam’s social and economic life. my country imported local specialties and products from Vietnam. Rare products from Southeast Asia, such as ivory, rhinoceros, tortoiseshell, pearls, etc. from Vietnam. Economic and cultural exchanges between China and Vietnam have a positive impact on the economic, cultural and social life of both countries. Secondly, the opening of the Overland Silk Road also intensified the economic and cultural exchanges between my country and East and Southeast Asian countries, strengthened the connections between the world, and expanded our influence on Southeast Asian countries. The Maritime Silk Road strengthened the relationship between China and Southeast Asian and South Asian countries, and expanded the influence of Qin and Han culture on the outside world. It has established diplomatic ties with Southeast Asia by sea and expanded the scope of diplomatic activities between China and some countries in coastal areas of Asia.

Then, during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, exchanges between China and some countries in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula continued. Countries exchange envoys and exchange local products frequently.

Finally, in the late period of my country’s feudal society, that is, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, some feats of foreign exchanges occurred.

In order to promote the country's prestige and strengthen ties with overseas countries, Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty developed friendly relations with Asian and African countries, and purchased luxury goods for the court, setting a feat of seven voyages to the West. He has visited more than 30 countries and regions in Asia and Africa, reaching as far as the Red Sea coast and the east coast of Africa. Zheng He's fleet arrived in various countries and was warmly welcomed. Zheng He met with the local king and expressed the Ming Dynasty's willingness to have good relations with him. Peacefully traded with local residents, exchanging Chinese silk, porcelain, and tea for jewelry, spices, medicinal materials, etc. for the royal family to enjoy. During Zheng He's voyage, many heads of state and envoys visited China on Chinese treasure ships. During his voyages to the West, Zheng He advocated non-bullying, non-bullying, friendly coexistence, and mutual peace, which established unwritten norms for exchanges between Asian and African countries and had a profound impact on future generations. The significance of this voyage is unprecedented. Its scale is huge, its voyage is far, and the number of countries it visits is even more astonishing to the world. This is also the most important proactive diplomatic move in our country's history, which has greatly strengthened friendly relations and economic and cultural exchanges with Southeast Asian countries. On the other hand, Zheng He's voyages to the West also promoted a large number of Chinese immigrants to East and Southeast Asia. Since the Tang Dynasty, many people from the southeastern coast of my country have gone to Nanyang Islands to make a living. After Zheng He's voyages to the West, more Chinese moved to various islands in Southeast Asia to settle and became overseas Chinese. Overseas Chinese brought advanced production technologies and tools from their motherland, and worked with local people to develop jungles, mine mines, and cultivate rubber. Overseas Chinese have made significant contributions to the development of Southeast Asia. Today, many people in Singapore, for example, are descendants of immigrants from our country.