Jinan Times APP:

I would like to ask Mr. Lin Wenmeng. How are the overseas Chinese in Myanmar currently involved in the protection and maintenance of the memorial facilities for the Chinese Expeditionary Force martyrs, and how are they passing on and promoting this historical memory? Could you provide us with more details? Thank you.

Lin Wenmeng:

Thank you for your question. My wife is a descendant of the Chinese Expeditionary Force and we feel the patriotism and loyalty of the Chinese Expeditionary Force very deeply. The overseas Chinese community in Myanmar has primarily contributed to the preservation and maintenance of the memorial facilities by donating funds for its reconstruction and repair, as well as conducting searches for the missing and reburial of their remains. The Chinese Expeditionary Force sacrificed their lives for justice, demonstrating the Chinese nation's sense of justice and resilience. Their patriotic spirit deeply moves and inspires the overseas Chinese in Myanmar. The overseas Chinese community in Myanmar should inherit the will of the martyrs, pass on the national righteousness and mission. They should support the cause of China's reunification, and contribute to China-Myanmar economic and cultural exchanges. Let us cherish peace together and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Thank you.

Phoenix TV:

We would like to ask Mr. Yang Boyao to introduce the process of planning and constructing the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics Memorial Park and Memorial Hall, and how they will interact with the public in the future? In addition, what is the significance of the completion of the memorial park and memorial hall? Thank you.

Yang Boyao:

Thank you. Every year, the Nanyang Volunteers Memorial holds activities for the Nanyang Volunteer Memorial Monument. It is a towering monument to commemorate the Second World War. We found the monument was a bit out-dated so we began to think about how to enhance its presence and interaction. Commemoration is about history. We need to preserve the original documents, so we made several visits, exchanges, and learning activities. We traveled from Malaysia to Kunming, and also retraced the Burma Road, visiting the Nanyang Chinese Association for Exchanges. We were inspired to replicate the layout of the Burma Road in the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics Memorial Park. Second, we built a long wall using compressed earth. We engraved the names of more than 3200 Nanyang volunteers along its side. When we communicated with the staff of the memorial , he gave us a few tips. The first is that numbers are easier to remember, 3200 represents 3200 volunteers, and 1146 represents the 1146 kilometers of the Burma Road. We have displayed these concepts in the current memorial park, and placed a statue of Mr. Tan Kah Kee in it. During the public memorial service, at least 1000 people can gather at the site. Additionally, we need to share these stories, so we divided the site into five exhibition areas according to the origin of these Nanyang Volunteers. Since it is an old building, we could only make minor renovations on the inside. Our exhibition areas include an audiovisual area, a reenactment of how we traveled the Burma Road, and a brief recount of Mr. Tan Kah Kee's call to action for volunteers. We also collected photos of more than 800 Nanyang volunteers. On August 14th this year, we held an opening ceremony. Coincidentally, it rained heavily that day. We invited several leaders, including the . Minister of Transport of Malaysia, Loke Siew Fook. On site he said that with just this little rain, how can we carry umbrellas? We should not let these tiny raindrops distract us. And we must stand in front of the Nanyang Volunteers Monument and pay the highest respect to our predecessors and the Nanyang volunteers." This revealed the minister recognized the value of our work, providing further inspiration. Thank you.