When The Cheng Ho Series airs next year, it will be the first ever Malaysia-China large-scale epic series made.

The 36-episode historical series, which chronicles the adventures of the famed Chinese explorer and diplomat to Malaysia back in the 1400s, is expected to air in both Malaysia and China next year, coinciding with the Malaysia-China Cultural Tourism Year 2020.

“Cheng Ho’s expedition to Malaysia took place some 600 years ago but his story is still relevant today,” Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen said after witnessing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between counterparts from Malaysia and China.

Malaysia’s Trillion Film Group and Trillion Production, entrusted by the China International Culture and Artistic Centre (CICAC), will take the lead on the filming process taking place in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the partners from China include the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of China and China Central Television (CCTV).