Major conference discusses War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression

The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and modern international relationships were the topics of a major conference attended by 130 international scholars at Chongqing University on Friday.

"Many current international relationship issues between China and other countries are linked to global relationships during the time of the war," said Guo Dehong, director of the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The two-day conference will see scholars discussing war-time international relationships in the fields of politics, economy and social issues.

Guo said that research into the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression has progressed greatly in recent years.

Chongqing was the war-time capital and is playing an important role in the research, said Yang Qingming, deputy director of Chongqing publicity office.

The office has initiated several research projects in the past five years that have gained global attention.

Zhang Siping, Executive Vice-President of Chongqing University, said the university has carried out a great deal of research and said that the conference is a platform to discuss future international relationships from the viewpoint of history.

Kuo Tai-chun, research fellow at Hoover Institution, Stanford University said: "The study of history will help avoid previous mistakes and allows us to learn from the past. Research into the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression is fundamental to Asian peace, and peace in Asia is important for global peace."

When the Kuomintang government of Chiang Kai-shek established Chongqing as China's capital in 1937, the city gained global prominence.

More than 30 countries set up embassies and legations. As the capital of one of four UN permanent members, Chongqing hosted many world leaders, indeed many of them shaped world history.