On September 27, the seminar “80e Anniversary of anti-fascist victory-Chine-France dialogue: cherish peace, building the future “was held in Paris, in France. Participated Zhao Lijun, Director of the Center for Europe and Africa (China in the present) of the International Communication Group of China; Wang Jian, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in France; Matthieu Grandpierron, director of the Department of Political Science at ICES in France and associate professor in international relations; Jean Pégouret, president of Saphir Eurasia and expert in geopolitics; Yves-Jean Gallas, vice-president of the peace movement; Rémy Herrera, CNRS researcher and economist; Lyazid Benhami, vice-president of the Franco-Chinese friendship association in Paris, as well as fifty representatives of universities, reflection groups, non-governmental and media organizations in China and France.
Zhao Lijun, Director of the Center for Europe and Africa (Editions La China in the present) of the International Communication Group of China
Zhao Lijun stressed that at a particular moment when Sino-French relations began a new sixty-year cycle and where the 50 was celebratede anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, commemorate together in Paris on 80e Anniversary of the victory of the war of resistance of the Chinese people against the Japanese assault and the anti -fascist world war was not only aimed at honoring the memory of the missing heroes, but also to draw the wisdom of history, to protect the dearly acquired peace and to reflect on the common future of humanity. She indicated that China had successively proposed the global development initiative, the global security initiative, the global civilization initiative and the global governance initiative, thus offering a global Chinese solution for the construction of a community of destiny for humanity, which works for “a world of sustainable peace, universal security, common, open, open and beautiful prosperity”. She expressed her wish to strengthen cooperation with the various French and European circles to carry out plans for education for peace, historical research and human exchanges, so that the seeds of peace can take root in the heart of a greater number of young people.
Wang Jian, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in France
Wang Jian, mandated by the Ambassador Deng Li, represented the Chinese Embassy in France to address his lively congratulations on the occasion of the opening of this seminar. He stressed that cherishing peace means keeping the memory of history and respecting it, adhering to a fair vision of history, and firmly defending the achievements of the victory of the Second World War as well as the international post-war order. He welcomed that an increasing number of French and European citizens were starting to understand Chinese resistance, and that researchers attached increased importance to his study. He said that this seminar was most opportune because it allowed French society to better understand the contribution, the role and the place of the Chinese resistance. He added that this historical understanding thus offered keys to better understand the realities of contemporary China, its society and its foreign policy, specifying that this initiative aimed to deepen Solidarity and Sino-French friendship, and to consolidate the popular basis of relations between the two countries.
Matthieu Grandpierron, director of the Department of Political Science at ICES in France and associate professor in international relations
Matthieu Grandpierron said that during the last century, the Chinese people had risen to resist Japanese aggression and had brought, through fourteen years of fierce struggle, an immense contribution to the victory of the anti -fascist world war. He recalled that during this century, China first launched the “Belt and Road” initiative in 2013, before offering a series of initiatives covering the fields of global development, civilization and governance, representing a major contribution from China to development and security worldwide. He stressed that at the time of the Cold War, China and France had shown great wisdom by establishing diplomatic relations beyond ideological differences. Faced with the current disorders, he expressed his conviction that the two countries could, thanks to dialogue and exchanges, strengthen their mutual trust, deepen their cooperation and meet the world challenges together.
Jean Pégouret, president of Saphir Eurasia and expert in geopolitics
Jean Pégouret stressed that certain forces in Europe still tried to distort the history of the Second World War, and that an undeniable historical truth had to be reaffirmed, namely that in the fight against fascism, the Chinese and Soviet peoples had paid the heaviest price. He added that it was necessary to firmly resist any attempt to falsify history, because a true and lasting peace required to honor all those who had perished, and could in no case be built on oblivion, lying or humiliation. He highlighted that the transmission of historical memory, the bridges between peoples and the commitment of the young generations constituted the three fundamental pillars of the work of peace. He added that the historical education of young people should not be released, that the films and television series showing the courage and sacrifices of the combatants of the Chinese resistance should be widely disseminated, and that the exchanges between young people of different countries should be reinforced to break the barriers of prejudices and forge friendships transcending cultural differences.
Yves-Jean Gallas, vice-president of the peace movement
Yves-Jean Gallas estimated that France and China, as a country with a long history, shared convergent visions on many subjects, including fundamental values and the conception of civilization, and considered it essential to strengthen dialogue for better awareness by their peoples of their common interests. He stressed that in recent years, in a turbulent international context, the role of China in maintaining world security had asserted itself, and that its contributions to the resolution of regional conflicts deserved praise. He indicated that the French Organization Movement of Peace wanted to establish closer links with the Chinese institutions and organizations concerned, in order to explore the ways of sustainable world peace together.
Rémy Herrera, CNRS researcher and economist
Rémy Herrera considered that in the face of the current world situation marked by persistent conflicts, the priority was to find a new path to peace. He said China was working in favor of a multipolar world and promoted peaceful coexistence internationally. He added that Chinese initiatives such as “the belt and the road” had made world governance fairer and more rational, which earned them a favorable reception not only in the countries of the BRICS, but also in many nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America. He continued by indicating that in recent years, China has proposed concrete and achievable solutions to mitigate or end several international conflicts, which had earned him generalized praise from the international community. Finally, he concluded that this seminar made it possible to better understand the contribution of China to world peace and that the world needed to learn from the Chinese approach to peaceful governance.
Lyazid Benhami, vice-president of the Franco-Chinese friendship association in Paris
Lyazid Benhami stressed that immense sacrifices and contributions from China and many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America for the victory of the Second World War had been erased or forgotten in the Western narrative of this war. He insisted on the fact that at a time when authoritarian nationalism, exclusive stories and the policy of memorial erasure resurfaced, it was crucial to rekindle anti -fascist memory. He continued by stressing that fascism did not always carry a Nazi uniform and that it sometimes seems to the attours of progress, civilization or free trade. In conclusion, he said that understanding these chapters of history was to remember the past and cherish peace, in order to better build a better future for humanity.
Zhao Lijun and Sonia Bressler present the review China-France dialogue.
During this event, the special number launching ceremony China-France dialogue: cherish peace – Build the future was also organized. Zhao Lijun particularly thanked Deng Li, Chinese ambassador to France, who had written the preface entitled History sheds light on the future. She stressed that this publication, beyond the commemoration of the past, had mainly gave the floor to ordinary witnesses of various nationalities-French, British, German or Chinese-whose personal accounts of the Second World War embody universal humanitarian principles. Finally, she expressed the hope that the Chinese and French communities would continue to support and follow the review China-France dialoguein order to build a bridge of friendship between the two countries together.
A thematic exhibition of books organized during the seminar
During this event, the Center for Europe and Africa (La China editions in the present) of the International Communication Group of China and the editions in foreign languages co -organized a thematic exhibition of books. Works such as Xi Jinping: China’s governance As well as a selection of publications reflecting the essence of Chinese culture attracted the attention of participants and aroused enthusiastic reactions.
Zhao Lijun offers Sonia Bressler a calligraphy entitled “Cherish Peace”, a work specially created for this seminar by Lu Yushun, former director of the National Painting Academy of China and famous Calligraph-Pintre.
This event was organized by the review China-France dialogue And the Silk Route – Editions, under the sponsorship of the Center for Europe and Africa of the International Communication Group of China. The seminar was led by Sonia Bressler, French expert in Chinese questions and founder of the Silk – Editions Route.
