Chen Tao:

Due to time constraints, we will take one last question.

China Youth Daily:

After listening to the introductions, we noted that standing at the juncture of "remembering history and looking forward to the future," the overseas Chinese community is committed to the intergenerational transmission of the memories of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. How do you explain the history of the War of Resistance to the younger generation? What challenges do you face?

Xu Songhua:

Thank you. Your question is my primary focus. It has been 80 years since the victory in the War of Resistance, and 94 years since the September 18 Incident in 1931. From this perspective, the surviving old heroes and veterans of the War of Resistance are already very rare and precious. On the other hand, our young people, especially those growing up overseas, are educated with foreign books and foreign worldviews, which are different from ours. If the gap is not filled, our history may be forgotten, which is very heart-wrenching. Our next generation must remember history and never forget the national humiliation. If they do not even know this, how can they strive for strength and unity, and how can they share the same sentiments with us? As such, this issue is indeed something we must seriously consider.

In Spain, various associations have collaborated with Chinese language schools to organize many activities. In 2015, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we organized a contest featuring songs from the war period, such as "My Home is on the Songhua River in Northeast China." I found their performance full of conviction\, and through singing these songs, they were able to understand the situation in that era.

At the same time, we have also used our music, our dance and our songs to evoke memories of that period. Additionally, we have held photo exhibitions and calligraphy and painting exhibitions, through which people get to know that how much the Chinese people suffered and how incredibly tough their lives were. We have also inspired their profound love for the motherland through speeches and seminars by veteran leaders of overseas Chinese communities.

The issue of the next generation is indeed an important one. We are also organizing summer camps. This July, my granddaughter and seven of her classmates attended a summer camp. They are all high school students. After the camp, I said that if they had the opportunity, they should visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. When they came back, I asked them how they felt after visiting the memorial hall. My granddaughter said that she felt very heavy-hearted and angry. I suddenly felt that my granddaughter had matured. She already understood how to distinguish between love and hate. She knew how the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression came about. So we need to have a sense of numbers, such as the September 18 Incident in 1931, the July 7 Incident in 1937, and so on. I told them that on Dec. 13, 1937, Nanjing fell, and 300,000 of our compatriots were killed by the Japanese. They need to be told about these numbers. We need to talk about the 14-year War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and teach them that in 1949 the People's Republic of China was founded, and the Chinese people stood up; after more than 40 years of reform and opening up, the Chinese people have gone from standing up, to becoming prosperous and then to becoming strong. Only in this way can we arouse their feelings for their motherland.

We need to cultivate the next generation, which requires our media to do more publicity, and our overseas Chinese organizations and the older generation to pass this on. Our tomorrow will be better. Thank you.

Yang Boyao:

I would also like to say something. Overseas, many ethnic Chinese families now have third, fourth and even fifth and sixth generations descendants. When we communicate with them, they always say they are Malaysian Chinese, and some no longer have a sense of their ancestral homeland. In Chinese communities, we must do some work. For example, we will make some short videos and promotional clips to post on platforms like Facebook, TikTok and RedNote. We also need to bring them to China to participate in summer or winter camps. After participating in these activities, they will actually have some changes, saying they hadn't realized how good China is. In their impressions, their grandfathers told them that China was poor at that time, and so they don't know that China is now very strong. Therefore, we often organize groups to return to China and tell China's story well. We also once told them and inspired them that no matter where they go, no matter how far they drift around the world, their roots are still in China. Thank you.

Yu Junwu:

As for myself, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are both veterans of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Sharing their personal experiences of this history creates a stronger emotional bond and resonance. In addition, artistic works have an appeal. At the 70th and 80th anniversaries of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we held a large-scale symphony concert and World War II photo exhibition in Sydney, respectively titled "Commemorating the Past — Cherishing Peace" and "Ode to Peace and Future." From the artistic forms to their content, they stirred people's hearts, aroused resonance and brought people together. Thank you.

Lin Wenmeng:

Although we live overseas, we always have the blood of the Chinese descendants flowing in us. This is the blood of our nation. The Chinese nation is united, friendly, peace-loving and actively upholds justice. This is our national culture. In the current international situation, building a community with a shared future for humanity is very important. The peace, prosperity and development of the world are the shared benefits of all people around the world. Thank you.

Chen Tao:

Thank you to the five representatives. The words shared by the five representatives has made us once again feel the sincere patriotism that binds overseas compatriots to the motherland by blood, the shared hatred against the enemy and united resistance more than 80 years ago, and the subsequent concerted efforts and joint struggles of compatriots at home and abroad — all of which have pooled the majestic strength for national rejuvenation. May we continue to inherit this patriotic sentiment and jointly write a new chapter of peace and development.

Today's press conference is hereby concluded. Thank you again to the five representatives and to the media. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Lin Liyao, Li Congrong, Zhang Tingting, Yan Xiaoqing, Wang Xingguang, Xu Xiaoxuan, Xu Kailin, Yang Chuanli, Yuan Fang, Zhang Junmian, Liu Sitong, Fan Junmei, Li Huiru, Ma Yujia, Wang Qian, David Ball, Jay Birbeck and Tudor Bentley Finneran. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.