NANJING PROMOTES GLOBAL PEACE THROUGH HISTORY, EDUCATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- Nanjing, the first Chinese city recognised as an “International City of Peace”, continues to promote peace and international dialogue through a series of cultural, educational, and historical initiatives.

With renewed global attention following the release of the film Dead to Rights, the city is drawing on lessons from its wartime past to spread messages of reconciliation and remembrance, according to a statement.

In 2019, to honour Danish businessman Bernhard Arp Sindberg’s efforts to protect tens of thousands of refugees during the Nanjing Massacre, the city held a statue unveiling and themed exhibition in Denmark. The initiative, praised by the Queen of Denmark, also featured traditional Eastern craftsmanship, symbolising cross-cultural solidarity.

In collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Nanjing has launched the annual Nanjing Peace Forum, which gathers scholars, youth leaders and experts from over 40 countries and regions to explore sustainable pathways to peace.

Meanwhile, the global "Design for Peace" initiative brought together more than 160 students, including participants from Harvard University and Politecnico di Milano, for the "Hongshan International Practice Camp". The programme used storytelling and design to explore harmony between humans and nature.

At the local level, the Memorial Hall commemorating the victims of the Nanjing Massacre continues to expand its digital platforms to promote peace education and historical awareness across borders. The hall houses over 100,000 historical items and serves as a key resource for international researchers.

Through these initiatives, Nanjing seeks to transform historical memory into a foundation for global dialogue, education, and long-term reconciliation.

-- BERNAMA