Around 150 international guests gathered on Tuesday at a symposium in Beijing to reflect on the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The guests, including over 30 scholars and experts from countries such as Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, the United States, Brazil, Japan and Nigeria. They shared views on the significance of the 80th anniversary of the victory commemorations.
"The World Anti-Fascist War holds significant importance in world history. We need to take actions to defend the victorious results of this war. I think Tuesday's symposium, as well as the events on September 3, are good examples of this kind of action," said Dmitrii Novikov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russia.
"Commemoration is not just a feast, but to understand, to get a deep reflection about what happened in history. It's very, very important to stress the role played by Chinese participation in the Second World War, the war in which China stood almost alone against Japanese invasion," said Francisco Cesar Alves Ferraz, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the Londrina State University in Brazil.
The symposium also held group discussions on the significance of Chinese efforts and contributions in the Eastern battlefields.
Themed on "Remembering History, Honoring Martyrs, Cherishing Peace, and Creating a Great Future", the International Symposium was jointly held by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
International Symposium in Beijing reflects on China's contributions to victory of WWII
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
