A high-profile history seminar introducing unique perspectives of studies on the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War was held in Hong Kong on Saturday, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory and conveying messages to learn from the past and look to the future.

The half-day event, held at The City University of Hong Kong, invited three prominent historians to give keynote speeches, and another three experts for their comments.

Hans van de Ven, director of Asian and Middle Eastern studies at St Catherine’s College, the University of Cambridge, gave a speech titled “Strike South: Japan’s Grab for Empire in Southeast Asia in 1942” in Mandarin Chinese, analyzing the reasons for Japan’s invasion of Southeast Asia and the Netherlands’ role in the war.

Ching May-bo, associate dean of City University of Hong Kong’s College of Liberal Arts, said she was touched by the controversy over the exact timing of the Japanese army’s attack on Southeast Asia. She believes the best way for historians to dispel such confusion is to learn more languages and read more materials to gain a deeper insight.

Lu Fang-shang, a Taiwan-based historian specializing in Chinese modern history, analyzed power politics in international relations against the background of Sino-US ties during the war against Japanese aggression.

He noted that the global academic community has always neglected the China theater in World War II, and urged history scholars and students to spread more stories about the Chinese people’s war of resistance to overseas audiences.

Lu said that although the war ended eight decades ago, newly unearthed materials have continued to provide fresh angles and interpretations, raising alarms.

Jin Yilin, deputy director of the Institute of Modern History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, shed light on Communist Party of China leader Mao Zedong’s strategies in dealing with the challenges created by the dissolution of the Communist International in 1943, by quoting various historical documents.

Dozens of students also participated in the seminar.

“It’s a precious chance bringing three prominent scholars together to analyze history from different aspects. There’re only a few international scholars like Professor Hans van de Ven who've mastered Chinese and can offer breakthrough research perspectives of history,” a postgraduate student surnamed Liang from CityU’s Department of Chinese and History told China Daily.

“The speeches have deepened my recognition of history”, he said.

A youth forum on drawing the legacy of Chinese values from the anti-Japanese aggression war was also held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Saturday as part of activities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com