Chongqing Municipal Party Secretary Yuan Jiajun Meets with His Descendants, American General Stilwell's 140th Birthday Stilwell | General | Birthday
Joseph Stilwell, born in 1883, was a four-star general of the United States Army. After the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Allied Chinese Theater of War and the Supreme Commander of the US Forces in the China Burma India Theater. In Stilwell's life, he visited China five times and lived there for a total of 12 years, contributing to the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti Fascist War.
In 2023, coinciding with the 140th anniversary of General Stilwell's birth, Chongqing, which has a deep connection with him, held multiple activities to commemorate him.
On August 8th, the audience visited the General Stilwell Life Picture Exhibition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Quanchao
According to the WeChat official account "Chongqing Daily", on the afternoon of August 9, Yuan Jiajun, secretary of Chongqing Municipal Party Committee, met with General Stilwell's great granddaughter Susan Cole and Nancy Milward, who came to Chongqing to attend the series of activities for the 140th anniversary of General Stilwell's birth.
On August 8th, General Stilwell's great granddaughter Susan Cole was interviewed by media reporters in Chongqing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Quanchao
On behalf of the Municipal Party Committee, Municipal Government, and Chongqing people, Yuan Jiajun welcomes the visit of Susan Cole and Nancy Milward to Chongqing, and thanks the Stilwell family for their long-term contributions to promoting friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American people. Yuan Jiajun said that General Stilwell had worked and lived in Chongqing for a long time, and was an old and good friend of the Chinese people. He made important contributions to the victory of the Chinese Anti Japanese War, and we will always remember his name.
He said that this year marks the 140th anniversary of General Stilwell's birth. We will remember history and never forget our old friends. We hope to take this visit as an opportunity to tell the story of General Stilwell and the story of friendly cooperation between the people of China and the United States. We will pass on the friendship from generation to generation, better promote civil exchanges and exchanges between China and the United States, and contribute positively to the development of Sino US relations.
Susan Cole and Nancy Milward express their gratitude to Chongqing for their warm and thoughtful reception and arrangements, as well as for the efforts made by Chongqing to protect General Stilwell's former residence and build the Stilwell Museum. They said that the achievements made in Chongqing's development are impressive and admirable. We are deeply moved by the deep friendship between the Chinese people and General Stilwell, and we are honored to contribute to promoting the friendship between the Chinese and American people. As a descendant of General Stilwell, I hope to gain a better understanding of history, China, and continue friendship through this visit, making new contributions to promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States.
Previously, on August 8th, the commemorative event for the 140th anniversary of the birth of General Joseph Stilwell, sponsored by the Stilwell Research Center and co organized by the Peking University Sino foreign Cultural Exchange Research Base, opened at the Stilwell Museum in Chongqing. As one of the highlights of the event, the seminar commemorating the 140th anniversary of General Stilwell's birth was also held on the same day. Chinese and foreign guests had extensive exchanges on General Stilwell's life story, China US civilian exchanges and cooperation, and promoting China US relations.
On August 8th, guests visited the General Stilwell Life Picture Exhibition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Quanchao
The Chongqing Stilwell Museum has been committed to conducting research on Stilwell and Sino US relations. Tao Yan, Director of the Stilwell Research Center, stated that the series of activities will help enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and the United States, promote new efforts by the two peoples to improve and develop Sino US relations, and promote exchanges and cooperation between people from all walks of life in a broader field, seeking common development in all aspects of the two countries and their peoples. "I believe that the special connection between General Stilwell's descendants and China and Chongqing will continue," said Tao Yan.
In addition, the descendants of General Stilwell and Zhu De jointly planted a friendship tree on the same day.
According to China News Agency, General Stilwell formed a deep friendship with Comrade Zhu De during his time in China, and their descendants maintained close contact for decades thereafter. On August 8th, before the unveiling of the "Great Friend - General Stilwell's Life Picture Exhibition", the descendants of the two planted a osmanthus tree at the Stilwell Museum in Chongqing, hoping that the friendship between the two sides would last for a long time and that the friendship between the people of China and the United States would last forever.
According to reports, General Stilwell's great granddaughter Susan Cole believes that planting trees is very symbolic and hopes to come back to Chongqing many years later to see the tree bloom and bear fruit.
