Zhijiang County of Hunan Province witnessed a grand opening ceremony of the Fifth Zhijiang (China) International Peace Culture Festival. Vice Chairman Qi Xuchun of CPPCC, Vice President Xie Yuan of CPAFFC, Zhang Wenxiong, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Hunan Committee and Director of the Department of Publicity of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, and Pawl Crawford, a U.S. Flying Tiger veteran, delivered speeches at the ceremony.

Vice President Xie Yuan said, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It is of great significance to hold the the Fifth Zhijiang (China) International Peace Culture Festival in Zhijiang, the City of Peace, and the City of Victory. Chinese people will never forget the victory has come at the material and moral support of friends from foreign countries. He also hoped by commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we may work together to further strengthen friendship between the Chinese people and people of foreign countries, promoting international cooperation and making new contribution to world peace and common prosperity.

In his speech, Paul Crawford touched people’s hearts by remembering the friendship forged between him and soldiers of the Eighth Route Arm in China. He said, when his fighter jet crash landed in Shaanxi, China, it was the Eighth Route Army under the leadership of CPC that saved his life and escorted him to the nearest U.S. military base. He said he would never forget the friendship, and hoped the friendship be carried on from generation to generation between the people of the two countries.

Anna Chennault, widow of General Claire Chennault, Commander of Flying Tigers, Flying Tiger veterans and their families also attended the ceremony.