On 23 August, Consul General Tang Rui attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Plaque for Chinese Seamen in Liverpool and delivered an address.

Consul General Tang Rui remarked that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese nation made indelible contributions to the global anti-fascist cause at a tremendous sacrifice. As the main Eastern theatre, China pinned down and depleted the main forces of the Japanese army over an extended period, creating critical conditions for the Allied victories in the European and Pacific theatres. Approximately twenty thousand Chinese seamen journeyed across the oceans to work alongside British military and civilians in safeguarding supply lines and supporting frontline operations, forging an unbreakable maritime transport route at the cost of their lives. This combat camaraderie, cemented in blood, has become a shining chapter in the history of China-UK relations, worthy of joint remembrance.

The memorial plaque was erected by Liverpool City Council in 2006 to honour the contributions of the Chinese seamen. The event was initiated by China Media Group and included descendants of the Chinese seamen, experts, scholars, and representatives from the Chinese community, who laid flowers in remembrance of history and to carry forward the legacy of friendship.