As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, two Chinese films carrying profound historical memories are making their way to audiences across the globe this summer.
Dead To Rights, a Chinese historical film about the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, premiered domestically on July 25 before its international rollout starting August 7 in Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and Canada, with subsequent releases in Malaysia, Singapore, Russia, and South Korea.
In Sydney, Australia, the film's artistic portrayal of historical trauma and human dignity left Sydney viewers deeply affected. For many, the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre were not something they had been much exposed to.
"Actually I was (informed about the story of the Nanjing Massacre), but just an overview, just a little bit. I have friends, with the Chinese, so I knew a little bit, but not this deep," said a moviegoer.
Meanwhile, Dongji Rescue, a story of how Chinese fishermen defied gunfire to rescue over 300 British captives from the Japanese ship Lisbon Maru in 1942, debuted domestically on August 8, with international screenings following from August 14 in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the U.K., U.S., and Canada.
The films collectively highlight the moral courage of ordinary Chinese during the war, with Dead To Rights reflecting national solidarity and Dongji Rescue underscoring China's wartime internationalism.
Together, they chart the spiritual heritage of China during the war of resistance.
"History serves as a profound textbook, offering invaluable lessons that guide our progress. From a global perspective, it also stands as a vital beacon, helping nations worldwide recognize that war is transient while peace endures. Only through peaceful advancement can we steer global development toward a brighter future," said Wang Xuebin, a professor at the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Chinese WWII films spark historical reflection around globe
China's first 500-kV cross-border alternating-current power interconnection project entered service Monday, creating the highest voltage grid tie between the two countries and advancing Belt and Road energy cooperation.
The project raises two-way power transfer capacity between the two countries from 50,000 kW to 1.5 million kW, enabling the annual transmission of about 3 billion kWh of clean electricity, roughly 30 times the capacity of previous lines, according to China Southern Power Grid.
As the largest cross-border grid project and the highest-voltage power link between China and Laos, it connects southwest China's Yunnan Province with Oudomxay and Luang Namtha provinces in northern Laos.
Cross-border electricity trading began as the project entered operation. About 4.81 million kWh of power from clean energy bases in northern Laos was transmitted to Yunnan through the new line, marking a more regular and institutionalized phase of power connectivity between the two countries.
It is also the first time an overseas new energy project has participated in China's electricity market, the company said. The power involved in the transaction came from a large mountain photovoltaic project in Laos, one of the core supporting power sources for the interconnection line.
"This project is the cross-border power grid project with the highest voltage level between China and Laos. Leveraging the China-Laos power grid interconnection and the power markets in southern China, surplus hydropower from Laos can be transmitted to China during the rainy season, while China can supply supplemental power to northern Laos during the dry season. This project represents yet another landmark achievement between China and Laos in deepening power cooperation and jointly advancing the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Li Jingru, general manager of Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), a joint venture of China Southern Power Grid and Lao state-run Electricite du Laos.
The solar project has an average annual power generation capacity of about 1.65 billion kWh. In 2026, it is expected to transmit about 1.1 billion kWh of solar power across the border, supporting energy complementarity between the two countries.
"In the future, efforts will be made to further promote normalized cross-border electricity trading, meet the trading needs such as electricity transmission from Laos to China's Yunnan, from China's Yunnan to Laos, and from Laos to China's Guangdong, and facilitate the optimal allocation of energy resources in the Lancang-Mekong region," said Li Minhong, marketing director of China Southern Power Grid.
Construction of the interconnection project began in late February last year. Spanning a total length of 177.5 km, the transmission line includes a 145-km Chinese section and a 32.5-km Lao section.
New China-Laos power link expands transfer capacity 30-fold, boosts electricity trading
