Chongqing - On August 8, 2023, commemorating events for the 140th birth anniversary of General Joseph Stilwell kicked off in the Chongqing Stilwell Museum.

Over 150 attendees, including representatives of Chinese and American governments, academia, businesses, and media, participated in the events, including Susan Cole and Nancy Millward, the great-granddaughters of General Stilwell.

Themed "Remember Our Shared Struggle for Peace, Carry on China-US People-to-People Friendship," the commemorations include a photo exhibition, a symposium, planting friendship trees, and field visits in Chongqing.

The descendants of General Stilwell and Marshal Zhu De exchanged gifts. (Photo/Guo Juntao)

The descendants of General Stilwell and Marshal Zhu De jointly planted a friendship tree at the Chongqing Stilwell Museum and hoped that the friendship between the Chinese and American people can last forever.

The descendants of General Stilwell and Marshal Zhu De jointly planted a friendship tree at the Chongqing Stilwell Museum. (Photo/Guo Juntao)

On the morning of August 8, when the Symposium commemorated the 140th Birth Anniversary of General Stilwell, General Stilwell's grandson John Easterbrook addressed the audience via a video link. He reminisced about the history and stories of the museum and General Stilwell's remarkable contributions to the Chinese people during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Chinese people never forget a friend, and Stilwell's legacy of friendship with the Chinese people, and the contributions that flowed from that friendship, should be remembered and built upon. The Stilwell Museum will contribute to remembering that legacy in the future by hosting people-to-people activities.

At the Symposium, guests from home and abroad engaged in extensive exchanges and discussions on the life stories of General Stilwell, China-US people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and advancing China-US relations.

General Stilwell's great-granddaughters Susan and Nancy noted they were honored to participate in the commemorative event and reviewed the friendship between General Stilwell and the Chinese people. They thanked China for the invitation and the efforts made for this event. As the inheritors of General Stilwell's legacy, they were pleased and proud.

General Stilwell's great-granddaughters Susan and Nancy noted they were honored to participate in the commemorative event and reviewed the friendship between General Stilwell and the Chinese people. (Photo/Guo Juntao)

Many speakers shared their insights from different perspectives. They expressed that China-US relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world today and that General Stilwell is a bridge for friendship between China and the United States. Both sides should cherish this friendship, enhance exchanges and mutual learning, improve understanding and mutual trust through more diverse channels, and cement the foundation for our bilateral ties.

"A Great Friend – Photo Exhibition on General Stilwell's Life" also started at the Chongqing Stilwell Museum. The exhibition reveals General Stilwell's life and military career, presenting the audience with an impressive collection of nearly 200 photographs and over 60 items. The display focuses on General Stilwell's passion for Chinese traditional culture and his profound love for the Chinese people during his stay in China. It looks back and pays tribute to the glorious time when General Stilwell's stood with the Chinese people against Japanese Aggression and commemorates the enduring friendship between General Stilwell and the Chinese people.

"A Great Friend – Photo Exhibition on General Stilwell's Life" started at the Chongqing Stilwell Museum. (Photo/Guo Juntao)

"A Great Friend – Photo Exhibition on General Stilwell's Life" is a permanent exhibition and opened to the public for free.