Xi Jinping’s letter of reply to the family members of the survivors of the “Lisbon Maru” ship – Xinhua English.information.cn

(Beijing, 27) Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to the people of the survivors of the “Lisbon Maru” ship, encouraging them to continue their energetic engagement in the friendship involving China and the United Kingdom and wanting forward to other British friends contributing to the China – United kingdom relations.

The Xinhua News Company noted that Xi Jinping pointed out that the poignant tale of the heroic rescue of British POWs on the Lisbon Maru by fishermen from Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China in 1942 was an essential aspect. of China and Great Britain preventing side by facet whilst allied in World War II and preventing jointly from fascist aggression. Witnessing is also a historic tale of the deep friendship in between the two peoples.

He pressured that this calendar year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial stage between China and the United Kingdom. More than the past fifty percent century, it is thanks to the tough perform of countless helpful people from the two international locations that relations among China and the United kingdom have been ready to go on to progress. It is hoped that the families of the Lisbon Maru survivors will continue on to engage in China-United kingdom friendship and anticipate extra British close friends to make a constructive contribution to the growth of China-United kingdom relations.

In October 1942, the Japanese military commandeered the passenger and cargo ship “Lisbon Maru” to escort extra than 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan. They had been shot by the US armed service as they crossed the waters near Zhoushan. 843 British prisoners had been killed and 384 British prisoners rescued by regional fishermen. Because then, the British army and the British federal government have been deeply grateful. In the course of his go to to the United kingdom in 2015, Xi Jinping took the “Lisbon Maru” rescue incident as an illustration, pointing out that the friendship solid involving the Chinese and British persons in the course of the war will in no way fade and has become an asset. important for the marriage amongst the two countries.

A few days in the past, Winnie, the daughter of Molly, the last survivor of the “Lisbon Maru”, sent a letter to Xi Jinping, expressing her gratitude for China’s rescue and kindness, and firmly supporting the friendship between the British and Chinese individuals from generation to technology.

–