Presentation of published research on the Nanjing Massacre is held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province in east China, on August 15 (WEI YAO)
On August 15, the date the Japanese emperor’s message of unconditional surrender in World War II was announced 80 years ago, an event to present published research on the Nanjing Massacre and deepen understanding of history, themed “Truths of the Past, Voices of the Present,” was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province in east China.
The Nanjing Massacre refer to barbaric mass murders that took place after Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital Nanjing on December 13, 1937. Over a period of six weeks, the invaders killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers.
The presentation was jointly organized by the China International Communications Group Center for the Americas (CICG Americas) and the Publicity Department of Nanjing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and took place at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.
Cherishing peace
This year is the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Yu Yunquan, Vice President of China International Communications Group, delivers a speech during the presentation(WEI YAO)
Yu Yunquan, Vice President of CICG, said that looking back on this great victory not only refreshes a deep memory of the past but also offers a clear vision of the present and a firm guide for the future. “We must learn from history and cherish peace; we must uphold truth and promote justice; we must defend order and work together to build the future,” he said.
In recent years, CICG has devoted itself to translating and sharing historical facts with the world, telling the truth of the Nanjing Massacre and China’s role in fighting fascists in the main theater in the East of the World Anti-Fascist War. Yu noted that CICG will continue to deepen internationall exchange through joint academic research, the creation of multilingual historical archives, and youth dialogues, promoting a correct view of history and advancing the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilizations Initiative to help build a community with a shared future for humanity.
Xu Ning, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee (WEI YAO)
Xu Ning, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, said Jiangsu has advanced peace-related research and communication, built Cities of Peace, and promoted the value of peace.
“Because this land beneath our feet carries the suffering of history, we more deeply understand how precious the air and sunshine of peace are,” she said. “We will always welcome peace-loving friends from around the world and work together to carry out cooperation, engage in mutual learning among civilizations and build a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Zhou Feng, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee and Curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders (WEI YAO)
Zhou Feng, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee and Curator of the Memorial Hall where this event was held, said the memorial has established the Institute of National Memory and International Peace, produced book series on the Nanjing Massacre and on International Cities of Peace, and launched the Journal of Studies on the Japanese Aggression Against China and the Nanjing Massacre in four languages—Chinese, English, Japanese, and French.The journal is collected by libraries, research institutes and friendship organizations in more than 50 countries.
He hopes these publications will help people around the world understand the historical facts, better understand peace and build consensus for peaceful development.
He Peng, Deputy Director of the China International Communications Group Center for the Americas, chairs the presentation of published research on the Nanjing Massacre (WEI YAO)
He Peng, Deputy Director of CICG Americas who chaired the event, emphasized the importance of remembering history and passing on truth. “Our presentation is a cross-border historical dialogue to ensure that more people who value peace and justice will remember this chapter of history. Peace must be safeguarded by all, and the painful lessons of war must never be forgotten.”
Passing on memories
During the presentation, a short film on the Journal of Studies on the Japanese Aggression Against China and the Nanjing Massacre was screened, featuring insights from descendants of wartime friends who aided China and from international journalists.
Yu Yunquan, Xu Ning and Ji Tiejun, a member of the Standing Committee of CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee and Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee, present selected publications to international guests (WEI YAO)
Selected publications were presented to six international guests, including Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe. In 1937, John Rabe and the International Committee for the Nanjing Safety Zone established a 3.86-square-kilometer refuge with 25 shelters, protecting about 250,000 Chinese civilians. A bilingual digital platform for Nanjing Massacre historical archives was jointly launched.
A launch ceremony for the bilingual digital platform for Nanjing Massacre historical archives, held during the presentation (WEI YAO)
The fourth group of inheritors of the historical memory of the Nanjing Massacre was also announced and presented with certificates, including friends such as Thomas Rabe and Megan Brady, the great-granddaughter of U.S. doctor and Nanjing Massacre witness Richard Brady, and descendants of Safety Zone members, survivors and protectors of historical artifacts.
A ceremony held to award certificates to inheritors of the historical memory of the Nanjing Massacre (WEI YAO)
Friendship beyond borders
During the expert recommendation session, four Chinese and foreign scholars shared perspectives on related publications.
Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe, winner of Friendship Envoy Award of the 2025 Orchid Awards, Professor at Heidelberg University and author of Rabe and China (WEI YAO)
Thomas Rabe reviewed his family’s 117-year ties with China, spanning four generations. His grandfather’s The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe remains a crucial historical record of Japanese atrocities.
Thomas Rabe compiled more than 20 volumes of diary manuscripts into Rabe and China and has established six John Rabe Communication Centers worldwide, including two in Beijing and Nanjing. Recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2018 and the Friendship Envoy Award of the 2025 Orchid Awards, Thomas Rabe said the friendship between the Rabe family and China will continue.
He Jianming, Former vice chairman of China Writers Association and author of Nanjing Massacre: A complete record of the Japanese Fascist Crimes in 1937 (WEI YAO)
He Jianming, former Vice Chairman of the China Writers Association, discussed his book Nanjing Massacre: A Complete Record of the Japanese Fascist Crimes in 1937, which systematically documents the atrocities from a Chinese perspective and has been translated into six languages, namely, English, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and Malay. “Only by truly understanding the facts can we grasp the importance of remembering history today,” he said.
“The world today remains far from peaceful, and voices advocating peace are still too few. As a nation committed to peaceful development, China bears both the responsibility and the obligation to shoulder this mission,” he said.
Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and Chief Executive Editor of China Hoje, published by CICG Americas, delivered a speech via video (WEI YAO)
Brazilian professor of international law Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, speaking via video, said learning about the Nanjing Massacre is not only an act of justice for the victims and survivors, but also an effective way to resist selective amnesia and prevent the recurrence of historical tragedies. He suggested traveling exhibitions, academic cooperation, creation on films, documentaries, and TV series on the subject, and a multilingual online database of testimonies, photos, and archives for global access.
Jia Qiuya, Vice President of Foreign Languages Press (WEI YAO)
Jia Qiuya, Vice President of Foreign Languages Press, introduced several books published by the press that document the historical truth of the Nanjing Massacre and Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
He said that the Foreign Languages Press is ready to work with all sectors of society and friends worldwide, and let hisotry and facts speak through books. Such efforts, he noted, demonstrate to the world the Chinese nation’s resolve to remember history, cherish peace and build a better future, as well as the Chinese people’s aspiration to pursue the path of peaceful development.
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
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