At 3:00 p.m. on September 1, 2025, the press center for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held its second press briefing. Representatives of overseas Chinese from five continents gathered together, sharing vivid and heartfelt stories that built a spiritual bridge across time and space, once again bringing the patriotic sentiment of “one heart across ten thousand miles” into the global spotlight.
Mr. Yang Boyao, Chairman of the Kwong Tong Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recalled a chapter of overseas Chinese history not widely known: the “Nanyang Volunteer Drivers.” In 1938, under the call of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, overseas Chinese pooled their own resources and risked their lives to transport vital supplies back to China via the Burma Road. Today, in the “Nanyang Volunteer Drivers Memorial Park” established at Kwong Tong Cemetery, the names of more than 3,200 drivers are engraved on a long wall. In front of the monument, the words “responsibility, sacrifice, immortality” continue to echo with deep emotion. “We must not only tell these stories,” Yang said, “but ensure that young people remember the patriotism of that moment.”
The overseas Chinese community in Spain launched a series of commemorative events as early as May this year. Nineteen activities, ranging from calligraphy contests to photo exhibitions, and from online exchanges to in-person lectures, extended from major cities to remote islands, all aiming to plant the seed of “patriotism” in overseas youth. President Xu Songhua noted with deep feeling: “When I see them recall the dates of the ‘September 18 Incident’ and the ‘July 7 Incident,’ I realize the younger generation has truly been inspired.”
Mr. Lin Wenmeng, President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, recalled with deep emotion that during the war, Myanmar’s overseas Chinese organized 3,940 patriotic groups, raised massive donations, and even helped deliver aircraft to China’s wartime frontlines. Today, through restoring monuments and holding Qingming memorial ceremonies, they continue to safeguard the memory of the “expeditionary spirit.” He emphasized: “The destiny of overseas Chinese has always been closely tied to that of our ancestral homeland.”
Mr. Fang Zhiwei, Honorary President of the Fiji Chinese Cultural, Arts, and Economic Association, recalled how his grandfather, Fang Zuobiao, “sold property and donated aircraft” to support the War of Resistance, setting a patriotic example for the Chinese community in the South Pacific. Fang said that now, by sending his own children to study in China, he is ensuring that both family traditions and national stories are passed down to the next generation—an extension of the overseas Chinese spirit in a new era.
Mr. Yu Junwu brought power to the stage through music and imagery, blending cultural exchange with the call for peace. That evening, the grand symphonic epic concert “Peace and the Future” brought together artists from multiple countries, with 400 performers creating a magnificent spectacle. “Culture is a bridge,” Yu said. “Art can carry the idea of peace across borders.”
When asked by reporters, “What is ‘one heart across ten thousand miles’? And what inspiration does it hold today?” President Xu Songhua pointed out that when Tan Kah Kee organized overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia to aid the homeland, and when members of the International Brigades fought in Spain, these were living embodiments of “transnational resistance” and the practice of “one heart across ten thousand miles.” Today, in the face of global challenges, such cultural identity and sense of responsibility should become a force for peace and cooperation in the new era.
Representatives from overseas Chinese communities widely emphasized the importance of helping the next generation “recognize their ancestral roots.” They noted that through short videos, TikTok, summer camps, and creative exhibitions, history can be presented in ways that are both personal and impactful—key to strengthening the emotional bonds between overseas Chinese and their ancestral homeland.
In this dialogue that crossed oceans, participants not only remembered a history written in blood and fire, but also ignited a conviction for the future.
Eighty years ago, overseas Chinese embodied “one heart across ten thousand miles” through sacrifice and devotion. Eighty years later, their descendants are carrying this spirit forward—through culture, education, and exchange—elevating it to new heights. History will not sleep, and peace must be safeguarded.
To remember is not to dwell on the past, but to march together toward a more united, confident, and peaceful future.
