The Chinese Embassy in Oman held a foundation stone laying ceremony for the Zheng He Monument in Salalah, the "second city" of Oman and the capital of the Dhofar region, on Nov 8, with the Guangzhou municipal people's government participating as a supporting unit.

More than 100 people attended the meeting, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman and the Dhofar Municipality, as well as the Oman China Friendship Association, Omani key media outlets, and representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises in Oman. Chinese Ambassador to Oman Li Lingbing also participated.

Li noted in her speech that to reflect the friendship between China and Oman, the two countries have reached an agreement to establish the Zheng He Monument in Salalah, where the influential explorer had docked four times, to record the friendly exchanges between China and Oman in history, as well as to witness the bright future of exchanges between the two countries.

The Chinese Embassy in Oman has regarded the construction of the monument as an important task. In the process of promoting the project, it has received the full support of the Guangzhou municipal people's government and the active cooperation of the Dhofar Municipality. The Beijing Institute of Architectural Design created the construction design plan, while China Communications Construction Company used advanced 3D printing technology to build the monument.

The 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Oman will take place next May, with the monument expected to be completed as planned. It is expected that this landmark building will witness the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative in the new era between the two countries, consolidate friendship between both sides, as well as facilitate greater development in practical cooperation between the two sides in various fields.

The Chinese Embassy in Oman holds a foundation stone laying ceremony for the Zheng He Monument in Salalah, the "second city" of Oman and the capital of the Dhofar region, on Nov 8, with the Guangzhou municipal people's government participating as a supporting unit. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]