Wu Xiaofei, a descendant of Dongji fishermen in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, received a letter of gratitude from the other side of the world. The letter came from her British friend, Jean Clements, a descendant of a British soldier rescued from the Lisbon Maru.

In the letter, Clements expressed her admiration and gratitude for the Dongji fishermen, who had risked their lives to save the British prisoners of war on the sinking Lisbon Maru in September 1942, and emphasized how valuable their friendship is.

"As a group of visitors, who were all personally affected by the Lisbon Maru incident, we had no idea what impact the incident had on the people of Dongji too, so for all of us it was breathtaking, that an event 82 years ago, could still be significant to all of your people."

Wu Xiaofei (left) and Jean Clements meet for the second time when Clements visits Dongji Island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/wifizs.cn]

Wu and Clements' friendship began earlier this year at the commemorative event for the Lisbon Maru incident, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom.

In June, Clements, along with 14 other descendants of Allied POWs from the Lisbon Maru, visited Dongji to trace their roots and commemorate their ancestors' wartime experiences.

For over 80 years, the heroic rescue has forged a deep bond between the survivors and their families and the people of Dongji. Numerous cultural exchange activities have been organized between the two sides.