On the afternoon of November 15, Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe, author of The Diaries of John Rabe and recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, was invited to give a keynote lecture at CULR. The lecture was titled The Story of the Rabe Family and China.

Before the lecture, Liu Xiangbing, Party Secretary of CULR, and Li Dong, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC and the Management Office of the Zhuozhou Campus, warmly met with Thomas Rabe and his delegation. The meeting was also attended by persons in charge of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, CULR Youth League Committee, and other departments.

Party Secretary Liu Xiangbing warmly welcomed Mr. Thomas Rabe's visit. He highly commended the fearless deeds of Mr. Rabe's grandfather, John Rabe, who shielded local soldiers and civilians during the Nanjing Massacre and recorded the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders. He remarked that John Rabe's heroic actions had left a profound impact on and touched the hearts of many generations of Chinese people. These actions are of great importance in teaching the younger generation to care for life, cherish peace, and remember history. He expressed his hope that this exchange would inspire both faculty and students to better understand and embrace the spirit of international humanitarianism, and that they would more actively participate in international exchange and cooperation, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Mr. Thomas Rabe expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm reception he received from CULR. He stated that the Rabe family has long been dedicated to fostering friendship between the people of China and Germany. He conveyed his hope to continue working with CULR to actively contribute to fields such as international humanitarianism and Sino-German cultural exchanges, jointly promoting the ongoing advancement of Sino-German friendly relations.

Following that, Mr. Thomas Rabe presented a compelling lecture named The Story of the Rabe Family and China in Conference Hall 105 of the Zhiyuan Building. More than 300 faculty and student representatives from CULR attended the lecture. The lecture was chaired by Director Li Dong.

During the lecture, Mr. Thomas Rabe not only fondly reviewed the century-spanning emotional bond and deep connections between four generations of the Rabe family and the Chinese people, but also recounted the moving story of his grandfather, John Rabe, who, amid the brutal atrocities of the Japanese invasion during the Nanjing Massacre, risked his own safety to establish the Nanjing Safety Zone and selflessly saved over 200,000 Chinese compatriots. He also shared his efforts as an obstetrician in advancing medical exchange and cooperation between China and Germany. He stated that he will always honor his grandfather John Rabe's vision for peace and pass down his family's enduring legacy from generation to generation. He expressed his determination to contribute more significantly to strengthening Sino-German friendship and creating a sweeping momentum for international peace and friendship. At the end of the lecture, Professor Thomas Rabe engaged in a lively exchange with CULR faculty and students. The keynote lecture concluded with a long and enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.

After the lecture, Mr. Thomas Rabe held a book signing event for CULR faculty and students, featuring his book Rabe and China. The event was filled with a vibrant and warm atmosphere.

(Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, CULR CCYL Committee)