Commemorative ceremonies were held Friday at a park that opened one day earlier in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to remember the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in helping China fight against Japanese aggression during World War II, particularly those who returned to China to ferry essential supplies and donations during the war. Since 1939, some 3,200 volunteers from Malaya, Thailand, Indonesia and other regions, most of whom were local Chinese, made up a service group known as "Nanyang (Southeast Asian) Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics." They braved immense dangers to reach China's Yunnan Province in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and helped keep the Burma Road operational, as it was a vital lifeline of China's wartime supplies. It was reported that they delivered more than 500,000 tons of supplies, including arms, vehicles, fuels and medicine, from 1939 to 1942, and some 1,000 of them sacrificed their lives during the process. At the commemorative ceremonies, representatives from local and international communities paid their respect to the heroes by saluting them and laying wreaths and flowers at the monument. "As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, it is all the more important to remember that when the motherland was in its greatest peril, there was a group of people who gave up the good life overseas, taking responsibility to aid China. The rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone. They left their family and sacrificed themselves for the motherland," said Lin Xiaochang, chairman of China's Yunnan Research Association for the History of Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics. "The history for the younger generation, I believe that we should not forget it and we should bring it forever to the future generations," said Gilbert Pang Jiun Tatt, Youth Chairman for Malaysia's Fui Chiu Association. Among those paying their respects was a group from Japan aiming to improve understanding of the country's wartime record. "Usually, Japanese people are surprised to learn that Japanese army committed atrocities not only in Malaysia but in other parts of Asia," said Yosuke Watanabe, a researcher from a Japanese peace study group. A short distance away from the park, a memorial hall to honor the volunteer drivers and technicians also opened on Thursday. SHOTLIST: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Aug 15, 2025 1. Various of commemorative ceremony in progress; wreaths, flowers being laid at monument; monuments at Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics (Nan Yang Ji Gong) Memorial Park; 2. Statue in front of Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics Memorial Hall; 3. Photos of volunteers on display; FILE: Date and Location Unknown 4. Photo of Burma Road; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Aug 15, 2025 5. Various of photos on display; 6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lin Xiaochang, chairman, China's Yunnan Research Association for History of Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics (ending with shot 7): "As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, it is all the more important to remember that when the motherland was in its greatest peril, there was a group of people who gave up the good life overseas, taking responsibility to aid China. The rise and fall of the nation concerns everyone. They left their family and sacrificed themselves for the motherland."; 7. Various of commemorative ceremony in progress; 8. Various of exhibits; 9. People in front of monument; 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Gilbert Pang Jiun Tatt, Youth Chairman, Malaysia's Fui Chiu Association (starting with shot 9): "The history for the younger generation, I believe that we should not forget it and we should bring it forever to the future generations."; 11. Various of participants laying flowers, visiting memorial hall; 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Yosuke Watanabe, Japanese researcher: "Usually, Japanese people are surprised to learn that Japanese army committed atrocities not only in Malaysia but in other parts of Asia."; 13. Man in front of wall showing names of volunteers; 14. Monument; 15. Screen saying "Commemoration of Malayan World War II, People's Memorial Monument"; 16. Commemorative ceremony in progress; 17. Posters showing volunteers; FILE: Penang, Malaysia - Date Unknown 18. Statue of volunteer drivers; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Aug 15, 2025 19. Various of Kwong Tong Cemetery. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]