On April 14, 2025, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People's Government of Gansu Province cohosted the Symposium Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Birth of George Hogg in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu. He Wei, Vice Chairperson of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Michael Crook, Chairman of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives (ICCIC); Zoè Reed, former Chair of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU); George Hogg's relatives, and representatives of the British Embassy in China, Lanzhou City University and Shandan County attended the symposium and delivered speeches.

Jiang Jiang said that in the 1930s, Mr. George Hogg, driven by a profound commitment to world peace and justice, journeyed thousands of miles to China. With unwavering dedication, he immersed himself in the war-torn land, ultimately leaving his brief yet magnificent youth forever etched upon this soil. He used his pen as a medium to expose the atrocities of the Japanese invaders, reflecting the real scenes of the heroic struggle of the Chinese military and civilians, and becoming a pioneer in the pursuit of truth. He joined the ICCIC, also called "Gung Ho," organized and founded cooperatives, actively sought international aid, and became a doer in supporting the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. He planted himself in the old revolutionary base areas, devoting his entire heart and soul to the development of the Bailie School and the education of his students, becoming a guiding light for the youth. 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. Amid accelerated changes unseen in a century, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. It requires us to think in big-picture terms, maintain a global vision, and shoulder a greater sense of responsibility. We need to build a bridge of closer people-to-people ties, carry forward the spirit of George Hogg, actively build more people-to-people exchange platforms, and jointly be practitioners of building a community with a shared future for mankind. We need to hoist high the sail of cooperation, advocate ICCIC's spirit of "work hard and work together," jointly address the common challenges facing mankind, and make unremitting efforts to advance the cause of peace and development of humanity. We need to let the splendor of civilizations shine forth, champion equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, implement the Global Civilization Initiative, and work toward the prosperity and development of human civilization. We need to foster the torchbearers of tomorrow, encourage young people from all countries to enhance mutual understanding, forge closer bonds, and join hands on the way forward, and see to it that they become the inheritors of traditional friendship, the drivers of friendship and cooperation, and the contributors to global development. The CPAFFC is willing to collaborate with all parties to inherit and carry forward the spirit of internationalism embodied by Mr. George Hogg, continuously deepen the understanding and friendship of the people of all countries, and jointly build a brighter world.

At the symposium, Chinese and foreign guests shared the historical evolution of the Gung Ho movement, the work done by British organizations for friendship with China and the life story of Mr. George Hogg. They recounted the touching story of how this great internationalist warrior established the Bailie School and trained technical personnel during China's War of Resistance. The British side thanked the Chinese people for not forgetting their old friends and continuing to dig up the story of the UK-China friendship represented by George Hogg, reinvigorating the George Hogg spirit in the new era. They expressed their readiness to work with the Chinese side to continue to tell the story of George Hogg well, renew the friendship between the UK and China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields, and contribute to the development of UK-China relations.

Before the symposium, the guests also visited the Photo Exhibition Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Birth of George Hogg.