Envoy stresses commitment to peace, UN principles, and stronger ties with Nigeria during war commemoration screening
The Chinese Ambassador, Yu Dunhai, has called on the international community to remain steadfast in upholding the principles of the United Nations, resist unilateralism, and work together to ensure that the tragedies of fascism never resurface.
Speaking in Abuja at the screening of Dead to Rights, a historical drama centered on the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, Yu emphasized that remembering the darkest chapters of history is essential to preventing their repetition. He said the commemoration was not just about mourning the dead, but about reinforcing commitments to peace and international cooperation.
“The best way to honour their sacrifice is to cherish peace, protect peace, and strengthen international cooperation,” the envoy said, urging nations to collectively safeguard the hard-won outcomes of World War II.
Recalling the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre, Yu described how Japanese invaders, after capturing the city in December 1937, brutally killed more than 300,000 civilians and soldiers over six weeks, committing widespread atrocities that remain etched in history as one of its darkest episodes. He stressed that such events serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of forgetting history.
“During World War II, as the main Eastern theatre in the global fight against fascism, China endured 14 years of relentless resistance. At a staggering cost of more than 35 million military and civilian casualties and direct economic losses exceeding 600 billion US dollars, China dealt a powerful blow to Japanese fascism, crippled Japan’s ambition to expand further, and made historic contributions to restoring world peace and order,” Yu stated.
He further noted that more than 35 million Chinese people lost their lives or were injured during the 14 years of resistance, underscoring the magnitude of sacrifice China made for global peace.
The envoy emphasized the dangers of historical revisionism and the instability it poses to world order. He urged nations to draw lessons from history and recommit to the international system with the United Nations at its core, stressing that global order should be steered toward greater fairness, justice, and equality for all.
“At this critical juncture, it falls upon us to reaffirm our commitment to the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations embodied in the UN Charter,” he said.
Yu also highlighted the role of Nigeria in this shared vision, stressing that as two major players of the Global South, both countries share common values of fairness, justice, and development. He said their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership must continue to grow through stronger political dialogue, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people cooperation.
“Cinema has the power to tell history in ways textbooks cannot. By watching, reflecting, and remembering, we reaffirm our shared humanity and our collective responsibility to build a more peaceful world,” he remarked.
The film Dead to Rights, screened to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, was described as both a tribute to those who perished and a reminder of the dangers of forgetting history.
Yu concluded that commemoration of this kind should inspire nations to honour history, pay tribute to the fallen, cherish peace, and work together toward building a brighter future defined by justice, fairness, and equality.
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