Xi replies to letter from families of “Lisbon Maru” survivors

BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) — Chinese language President Xi Jinping has just lately replied to a letter from the households of the survivors of the “Lisbon Maru.”

Within the letter, Xi inspired them to proceed to actively decide to the China-Britain friendship and seemed ahead to extra British buddies making contributions to bilateral relations.

In October 1942, “Lisbon Maru,” a cargo vessel, requisitioned by the Japanese military to hold greater than 1,800 British prisoners of battle (POWs) from Hong Kong to Japan, was hit by the U.S. military off the Zhoushan Islands, China’s Zhejiang province.

A complete of 843 POWs died, whereas 384 have been rescued by native fishermen. The British officers and troopers and the British authorities have been deeply grateful for his or her assist.

Referring to the shifting story of the heroic rescue again in 1942, Xi identified that it bears essential witness to China and Britain preventing facet by facet as allies throughout World Warfare II towards fascist aggression and has left tales of the profound friendship between the folks of the 2 international locations.

Xi famous that he’s very conversant in this piece of historical past, and advised the story throughout his go to to Britain in 2015.

The Chinese language president careworn that this 12 months marks the fiftieth anniversary of the institution of diplomatic relations on the ambassadorial stage between China and Britain, including that over the previous half a century, bilateral ties have been capable of hold shifting ahead because of the exhausting work of quite a few pleasant folks from each international locations.

Xi additionally expressed the hope that the households of the survivors will proceed to remain dedicated to the China-Britain friendship, and that extra British folks will make constructive contributions to the event of China-Britian relations.

Throughout his go to to Britain in 2015, President Xi took for instance the rescue of POWs on “Lisbon Maru” to emphasize that the friendship solid between the Chinese language and British folks through the battle won’t ever fade and has grow to be a helpful asset in bilateral relations.

The daughter of Dennis Morley, a survivor of the “Lisbon Maru,” wrote a letter to Xi just lately. She recalled China’s rescue with gratitude, expressing stable assist for an ever-lasting friendship between the British and Chinese language folks.