To mark the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, alongside the 50th anniversary of China-Europe diplomatic relations, the International Expert Forum on "War, Peace and Reconciliation" was held in Beijing on September 13.

A group photo of participants at the International Expert Forum on "War, Peace and Reconciliation" in Beijing on September 13, 2025. [Photo/ruc.edu.cn]

The event brought together diplomats, policy specialists, think tank representatives, and media professionals from China and various European nations. They were joined by distinguished scholars from RUC, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, Tongji University, Nanjing University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and other leading institutions. 

Experts from Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, and other countries engaged in in-depth discussions on fostering a correct understanding of history and promoting peace in today's evolving global landscape, with the shared goal of building a peaceful and prosperous future.

Lu Shaye, the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs, highlighted the heroic history and shared memories of anti-fascism that bond the people of China and Europe. He emphasized that in this new era of turbulence and transformation, China and Europe should work together to uphold global governance initiatives, enhance communication, build mutual trust, and deepen cooperation. Such efforts, he noted, are crucial for injecting greater stability and positive energy into world peace and development.

Zheng Shuiquan, vice-chair of the University Council of RUC, underscored that profound historical reflection is the cornerstone of lasting peace. Noting RUC's deep tradition in European studies, he stated that the university is committed to sowing the seeds of peace by advancing academic, educational, and youth exchanges. He expressed his hope that the forum would help resolve misunderstandings through dialogue and foster the wisdom and consensus needed for the healthy development of China-Europe relations.

Participants engage in discussion at the International Expert Forum on "War, Peace and Reconciliation". [Photo/ruc.edu.cn]

Forum participants widely acknowledged that post-World War II Europe, particularly Germany, advanced regional reconciliation and integration by confronting history, accepting responsibility, and pursuing institutional reform. This, experts noted, offers a unique model for achieving lasting peace. Similarly, China has pursued its own path of peaceful development, achieving remarkable growth through reform and opening-up, and initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, while promoting mutual learning among civilizations.

As two major global forces, China and Europe share the responsibility of building an inclusive international order and practicing true multilateralism. The forum concluded that comprehensive historical reflection, cross-border peace awareness, people-to-people cultural exchanges, and practical multilateral cooperation are essential foundations for eliminating misunderstandings, deepening trust, and achieving lasting peace and common prosperity.

The forum features a moving recitation of the bilingual Chinese-German poem "Peace" by students from RUC's European Studies Association, offering a rational, inclusive, and hopeful message to the world. [Photo/ruc.edu.cn]