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Published: 16:16, December 13, 2021 | Updated: 18:24, December 13, 2021
China remembers Nanjing Massacre victims
By Xinhua
Published:16:16, December 13, 2021 Updated:18:24, December 13, 2021 By Xinhua

China holds the national memorial ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre victims at the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2021. (PHOTO BY WAN CHENGPENG / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

NANJING - In front of the darkly-dressed crowd, China's national flag flew at half-mast as the country held its eighth national memorial ceremony Monday for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

Despite the winter chill, thousands of people who observed epidemic prevention protocols attended the ceremony in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, with white flowers on their lapels conveying condolences

Despite the winter chill, thousands of people who observed epidemic prevention protocols attended the ceremony in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, with white flowers on their lapels conveying condolences.

At exactly 10:01 am, sirens started to blare and the city came to a halt. Drivers in the downtown area stopped their cars and honked; pedestrians paused for a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims.

ALSO READ: Peaceful development stressed at Nanjing Massacre memorial

Teenagers read out a declaration of peace and citizen representatives struck the Bell of Peace. White doves, symbolizing peace, were released over the square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

The ceremony was held by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council at the square.

The commemoration proclaimed the Chinese people's firm stance on learning from history to create a bright future and their noble aspiration for adhering to the path of peaceful development, said Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan when addressing the ceremony.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, was joined by about 3,000 people from all walks of life wearing white flowers on their lapels.

It is the greatest consolation to the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, the martyrs, and all those who died during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Sun Chunlan, Chinese Vice-Premier

Under the leadership of the Party, the Chinese people have realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled and embarked on a new journey to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, Sun said. 

She added that China's national rejuvenation became a historical inevitability.

"It is the greatest consolation to the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, the martyrs, and all those who died during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression," Sun said.

Following Sun's speech, 84 teenagers read out a declaration of peace. Six citizen representatives struck the Bell of Peace. A total of 3,000 white doves, symbolizing peace, were released over the memorial square.

The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese troops captured the city on Dec 13, 1937. Over six weeks, they killed more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.

In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

READ MORE: Massacre victims not forgotten in Canada

Eleven victims of the massacre have passed away this year, reducing the total number of registered survivors to 61.

A woman lays flowers to mourn for the Nanjing Massacre victims at Zhongshan Wharf in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2021.  (PHOTO BY FANG DONGXU / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

People pay silent tribute to the Nanjing Massacre victims at Zhongshan Wharf in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2021.  (PHOTO BY SU YANG / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

Children lay flowers to mourn for the Nanjing Massacre victims in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2021.  (PHOTO BY LIU JIANHUA / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

Police officers take off their hats and pay silent tribute to the Nanjing Massacre victims at Xinjiekou area in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2021. (PHOTO BY YU HAIFENG / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

The honor guard escorts the national flag ahead of the national memorial ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre victims at the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The honor guard escorts the national flag ahead of the national memorial ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre victims at the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 13, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

People pay silent tribute to the Nanjing Massacre victims at the September 18 Incident History Museum in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province, Dec 13, 2021. (PHOTO BY HUANG JINKUN / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

Students hold paper cranes to mourn for the Nanjing Massacre victims at Fuhe School in Handan, North China's Hebei province, Dec 13, 2021. (PHOTO BY HAO QUNYING / CHINADAILY.COM.CN

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