中国与东南亚各国很早就发生了联系,除了两者之间的贸易外,东南亚各国还充当了东西方贸易的中转站,渡斯人、阿拉伯人是早期东西方贸易的主要参与者。在中国与东南亚的移民活动中,既有海外穆斯林移民中国,也有原先居住在中国的穆斯林移民东南亚,中国与东南亚之间隐约存在着某种伊斯兰联系,而且这种联系随着明代郑和7下西洋得到了进一步的巩固和加强。
China and Southeast Asia started connection very early. Besides the trade exchange, Southeast Asian countries played the role of transit places between eastern and western trade. Per- sians and Arabians were the main participants of early western and eastern trade. In the migrant activ- ities between China and Southeast Asian countries, there were mutual Muslim immigrations from Chi- na to Southeast Asian countries and vice versa. A subtle Islamic relationship existed between China and Southeastern countries. This kind of relationship was consolidated and strengthened with Zheng- he's 7 times of visiting Southeastern area in the world.