On 23 May 2025, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang attended and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Film Festival 2025 in London. Nearly 200 Chinese and British guests attended the event, including Lu Liang, deputy head of the China Film Administration; Stanley Johnson, key creator of the documentary In the Footsteps of Marco Polo; John McLean OBE, Chairman of the China UK Business Development Centre; and Martin Albrow, Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences. The guests watched the opening film The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru together.

Ambassador Zheng noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During those tumultuous years, the Chinese and British peoples fought shoulder to shoulder against fascist aggressors, made huge sacrifices, and contributed greatly to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The Lisbon Maru incident was a true story that happened 83 years ago in 1942, at the height of WWII. The heroic act of Chinese fishermen risking their lives to rescue British POWs is a powerful testimony of the special bond forged between the two peoples during the war. Ambassador Zheng expressed his delight that a memorial for the rescue was unveiled a few days ago in Zhoushan, China, and that the UK Parliament rendered its recognition on 15 May. In today’s turbulent world, it is all the more important to cherish this memory, carry forward the friendship, safeguard the outcome of the victory of WWⅡ, uphold the UN-centered international system, and work for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world.

Ambassador Zheng noted that cultural exchanges are the most effective way to enhance people-to-people understanding and eliminate misperception. He hoped that the four films screened at the festival will help the British audience better understand China, its people and China-UK relations. He also encouraged the British audience to actively participate in China-UK cultural exchanges and contribute more to the understanding, friendship and cooperation between the Chinese and British people.

Lu Liang spoke about the solid foundation, mutual complementarity and vast prospects of China-UK film collaboration. He hailed the rich experience and results already achieved by Chinese and British filmmakers in co-production, technical exchange, and film and cultural education. He called for more efforts to take this film festival as an opportunity and write a new chapter in friendly interactions between the two peoples and in film cooperation between the two countries.

The opening ceremony drew a full audience. The story of the brave rescue of British POWs from the Lisbon Maru by Chinese fishermen deeply touched and resonated with the audience. The film festival runs for four days on 23-26 May. Three other outstanding Chinese films — My Country, My Parents, The Composer, and Ne Zha 2 — will be screened in addition to The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru.