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Chinese Embassy in UK
·  Notice on the Cessation of Consular Legalization at the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK after China’s Accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents        ·  Notice on the Temporary Suspension of Entry into China by Non-Chinese Nationals in the UK Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits        ·  Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK Will Issue Two-year Multi-entry Visas to British Nationals       
HOME > News in Pictures
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds a Special Chinese New Year Reception for the Families of Lisbon Maru Survivors(2024-02-27)
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds a Chinese New Year Luncheon for Representatives of British Political Parties to Discuss China’s Practice and the Global Significance of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind(2024-02-25)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attends and delivers remarks at the Chinese New Year Reception held by the City of London(2024-02-12)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attends the 48 Group Club “Icebreakers” Chinese New Year Dinner 2024 and reads out Premier Li Qiang’s congratulatory message(2024-02-06)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attends the Asia House Annual Outlook 2024 Launch and delivers a keynote speech(2024-01-24)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 China-UK Hydrogen Energy Cooperation Forum(2023-12-01)
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK holds a reception to present China's participation in global maritime governance(2023-12-02)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends the Second OMFIF China-UK Forum and Delivers a Keynote Speech(2023-11-23)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang publishes an article in The Times to present China’s vision on global AI governance(2023-11-13)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Delivers Remarks at the 2023 Full Member General Assemblyof the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK(2023-11-10)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends and Delivers Remarks at “A Piano Rendezvous--An Intimate Musical Soiree with Lang Lang”(2023-11-03)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang delivers remarks at the opening session of the Fourth Policy Dialogue between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society(2023-10-25)
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds a Symposium on "The Communist Party of China and the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind"(2023-08-24)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends the Special Screening of the Documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru(2023-08-16)
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds a Reception Marking the 96th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Liberation Army of China(2023-07-28)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends the Reception Celebrating China-UK business cooperation at the City of London(2023-07-26)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Visits University of York(2023-07-21)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets with Leader of Leeds City Council James Lewis(2023-07-21)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets with Lord Mayor of Leeds Al Garthwaite(2023-07-20)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Visits University of Leeds(2023-07-20)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends the China-Northern England Cooperation Forum and Delivers a speech(2023-07-20)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets with Mayor Kate Rolfe of Stratford-upon-Avon(2023-07-02)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Hosts Reception at IMO Headquarters(2023-06-26)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets Chief Executive of the British Council Scott McDonald(2023-06-26)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang: "De-risking" Will Create Real Risks(2023-06-09)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets with Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan of the FCDO(2023-05-24)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends and Delivers A Speech at the Reception Hosted by the All Party Parliamentary China Group(2023-04-23)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends the UK Chinese Business Association 10th Anniversary Celebration(2023-04-23)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets IMO Secretary-General Kitach Lim(2023-04-16)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Gives an Interview to Chinese and Foreign Media(2023-03-31)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Gives Speech to Representatives of Various Sectors in Northern Ireland(2023-03-30)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets Mayor Sandra Duffy of Derry and Strabane(2023-03-31)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Visits Queen’s University Belfast(2023-03-31)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady(2023-03-31)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Alex Maskey(2023-03-30)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Visits Ulster University(2023-03-31)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast Alan Logan in Belfast(2023-03-31)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Meets Lord Mayor Christina Black of Belfast(2023-03-30)
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds a Chinese New Year Reception for the Families of Lisbon Maru Survivors(2023-02-22)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Gives an Exclusive Interview to CGTN’s Programme “A New Journey -- China’s Global Relations”(2022-11-02)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Delivers a Video Speech to the 2022 British Business Awards Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony(2022-11-09)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Attends the Fifth China-UK Economic and Trade Forum and Shares with the Audience the Significance of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China(2022-11-03)
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK Hosts Photo Exhibition An Extraodinary Decade of China in the New Era(2022-11-02)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Delivers a Keynote Speech at the Symposium on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China(2022-11-03)
· The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds Online Reception Celebrating the 73rd Anniversary of the People's Republic of China(2022-09-28)
· Speech by H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at the Online Reception Celebrating the 73rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China: Charge Ahead to Open a New Chapter(2022-09-27)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Delivers a Video Speech at the WRSA Forum to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Chinese Government-Sponsored Study in Britain(2022-09-10)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Delivers President Xi Jinping's Reply Letter to the Family of a Lisbon Maru Survivor(2022-08-27)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Visits COSCO Shipping Logistics UK and London Gateway(2022-08-26)
· Ambassador Zheng Zeguang Delivers a Video Speech at the Launch of the China Council of the Sustainable Markets Initiative(2022-08-25)
The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds a Special Chinese New Year Reception for the Families of Lisbon Maru Survivors
2024-02-27 19:47

On 24 February, the Chinese Embassy in the UK held a special reception in Gloucester for the families of the Lisbon Maru survivors to commemorate the Lisbon Maru rescue and celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival and the Chinese New Year.

H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang, Mrs Denise Wynne, daughter of Lisbon Maru survivor Dennis Morley, Mr Wu Buwei, family member of one of the Chinese fishermen from Zhoushan, Zhejiang who participated in the rescue, and Major (Ret’d) Brian Finch, who over the years been committed to collecting the historical documents on Lisbon Maru, delivered remarks.

Over 200 guests from different sectors, including Councillor Kathy Williams, the Right Worshipful Mayor of Gloucester, Councillor Justin Hudson, Sheriff and Deputy Mayor of Gloucester, Ms Chen Yanqin, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province, Mr Liu Zhonghua, Deputy Mayor of Zhoushan,  representatives of Zhoushan fishermen, and representatives of the families of Lisbon Maru POWs, also attended the event.

In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng recounted the Lisbon Maru rescue. He said that as President Xi Jinping pointed out in his reply letter to Mrs Wynne in 2022, the moving story of the heroic rescue back in 1942 bears important witness to China and Britain fighting side by side as allies during World War II against fascist aggression and has left tales of the profound friendship between the people of the two countries.

History may be in the distant past; but history shall never be forgotten. We must always keep in mind the friendship between the two peoples, treasure the hard-won peace we enjoy today and make joint efforts for a better tomorrow.

Ambassador Zheng introduced China's development achievements, noting that the Chinese people are now marching in confident strides towards the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.

China has always been a staunch force for peace, stability and development in the world. Facing increasing uncertainties and turbulence, at home, we will stay the course of high-quality development, and advance the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation through the Chinese path to modernisation. 

And internationally, we call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation. We call on all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future.

Ambassador Zheng pointed out that, in the past 52 years since China and the UK established ambassadorial diplomatic relations, the bilateral ties have continued to move forward amid twists and turns, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.

Cooperation between China and the UK is beneficial to both countries and to the world. Differences between the two countries should be properly handled on the basis of the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

The potentials for China-UK cooperation are far from being fully tapped. Both sides should make joint efforts to enhance dialogue and communication, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and bring more benefits to the people of our two countries.

It is hoped that the families of Lisbon Maru survivors and people from all sectors will respond to President Xi Jinping's call, carry forward the friendship between the Chinese and British people, and actively contribute to the steady development of China-UK relations.

Mr Wu Buwei, representing the families of the Zhoushan fishermen, shared the heroic deeds of his grandfather in rescuing three British POWs, and displayed a precious photograph of his grandfather with the British soldiers from that time.

He called for the family members of the Chinese fishermen and the British POWs to be promoters and guardians of China-UK cooperation, and together preserve this special friendship forged in battlefield.

Mrs Wynne fought back tears while retelling her father's experience in the Lisbon Maru incident, and said that she would always be grateful for the Zhoushan fishermen who risked their own lives to rescue the British soldiers.

Major Finch said that he was pleased to see the growing awareness of the Lisbon Maru rescue and encouraged everyone present to carry forward the memory of the incident  and promote the friendship between the two peoples.

The reception featured a variety of cultural activities, including the display of Zhoushan fishermen painting, fishing knots, as well as the making of dumplings and Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Artists from Zhoushan performed splendid songs, dances, and operas such as Yuloh Song, the Butterfly Lovers’ 18-li Farewell, Da Lian Xiang, and Flowing Water. Chinese and British singers also performed British songs like Scarborough Fair and Auld Lang Syne together, receiving rounds of applause from the audience.

Families of the Lisbon Maru survivors at the reception came from across the UK, many of whom brought their grandchildren, even great grandchildren with them. The Chinese and British guests engaged in warm exchanges and celebrated the Chinese Lantern Festival and New Year together.


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