Chinese navigator reviving ancient Maritime Silk Road coming to Malta

First Chinese to circumnavigate the globe solo on a sailing boat, coming to Malta together with a full media crew

In 2006, Zhai toured the Japan Sea in his yacht. [Photo: China Daily]
In 2006, Zhai toured the Japan Sea in his yacht. [Photo: China Daily]

The famous Chinese artist and sailor Zhai Mo, who was the first Chinese to circumnavigate the globe solo on a sailing boat, will arrive in Malta on Thursday, leading an expedition of three sailing boats. 

These boats are on a journey to “Retrace the Ancient Maritime Silk Road”.

This initiative was launched in response to a call by Chinese President Xi Jinping to accelerate the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

 According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Zhai Mo will be accompanied by a media crew including the well-known South East TV, who will be broadcasting on Chinese TV, newspapers and internet, giving Malta wide publicity as a key location on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

“The inclusion of Malta on this sailing route was the result of contacts between Zhai Mo and Malta’s former Ambassador to China, Clifford Borg Marks. In a letter to the Prime Minister of Malta, Premier Li Keqiang confirmed that China considers Malta as a part of the Mediterranean segment of the 21st Maritime Silk Road infrastructural plan which is being promoted by China,” the Ministry said.

The stop-over in Malta is coordinated by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Malta Tourism Authority, Transport Malta Valletta Cruise Ports, Yachting Malta and the Malta-China Friendship Society with the support of the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government; Department of Information; Public Broadcasting Services Ltd.; Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation; Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry; Malta Enterprise; Malta Freeport Corporation; Heritage Malta; St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation; and Tug Malta.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the general public is invited to the Upper Barakka Gardens to view the arrival of the sailing boats into the Grand Harbour accompanied by a Gun Salute at 5pm, followed by the Opening Ceremony at the Saluting Battery at 5.30 p.m.