Russian historian: Russia and China conduct unprecedented exchange of historical documents
According to a press release from Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University, Dmitry Kuznetsov, a Russian historian and head of the university's scientific-educational project "The Far East in WWII: Timeless and Endless," stated that Russia and China have carried out an unprecedented exchange of historical documents.
On May 18, during the 16th International Scientific Practice Conference "Russia and China: History and Prospects for Cooperation" held in Blagoveshchensk, China handed over valuable archival documents concerning Japan’s Unit 731 to Russia.
Kuznetsov said: "A research delegation from Harbin arrived here; they have long been engaged in studying the activities of Unit 731. The Chinese side has transferred to us documents previously preserved in China and never before studied by Russian historians."
He noted that Russia had previously delivered documents related to the 1949 Khabarovsk Trial to its Chinese counterparts.
"Today, we are seeing the Chinese response. This is a very significant step, as these documents pertain to Japanese militarist crimes and the history of WWII. The exchange of such archival materials is truly unprecedented," said Kuznetsov.
He pointed out that the transferred materials will be stored at the Moscow State Center for Historical Memory and will be made accessible to researchers in the future.
Yelena Mareyshova, head of the Presidential Executive Office’s State Center for Historical Memory, emphasized that issues related to historical memory now occupy a special place in Russia-China bilateral cooperation.
Mareyshova said: "It is precisely historical memory that is becoming the foundation of mutual respect and further collaboration between our two countries."
She added that Russia and China share a common tragic chapter in the history of WWII, which makes the joint effort to preserve historical truth particularly meaningful in practice.
Mareyshova stressed: "On one hand, there was Nazism in Europe; on the other, Japanese militarism in China and the Far East. Our countries both suffered enormous losses, and it is now extremely important to remember these historical events. This is not only a task for scientific research but also a responsibility we bear toward future generations."
Source: sputniknews
Original: toutiao.com/article/1865632474907658/
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