“In the notorious Nanjing Massacre during World War II， more than 300，000 Chinese people lost their lives and 20，000 women were raped. This history makes people remember the war and makes them more aware of the significance of peace，” said Fred Arment， executive director of International Cities of Peace in a video speech.

Nanjing in east Chinas Jiangsu province was an ancient capital for six of Chinas dynasties. The freezing winter of 1937 saw brutal killing by invading Japanese troops. One person was killed every 12 seconds.

The International Cities of Peace list includes Coventry in England， Bern in Switzerland， Amsterdam in the Netherlands， Berlin in Germany and so on.

Liu Cheng， UNESCO Chair on Peace Studies and a professor at Nanjing University， said that there were certain requirements for becoming an International City of Peace.

“For instance， the city might be traumatized by war or have witnessed big peace-related events，” he said. “It should also be advanced in peace studies and activities.”

Lius Institute for Peace Studies， together with the Institute of Nanjing Massacre History and International Peace， submitted an application to the International Cities of Peace.

“What was left by history was not hatred， but our awareness of peace，” he also said.

“Nanjing is among the cities that felt the greatest pain in World War II， and the Nanjing Massacre left us indelible memories，” said Zhang Jianjun， executive chairman of the Institute of Nanjing Massacre History and International Peace. “So we understand better how valuable peace is.”

Peace education has always been emphasized in Nanjing. Nanjing University is the first university to conduct research on peace studies in China.

Kawasaki Akira， a representative with the Japanese NGO Peace Boat， said that the designation of Nanjing as an International City of Peace could help the Chinese people cherish peace and the Japanese people reflect on themselves.

“Peace does not only mean ‘no war，” said Lee Ji Won， a professor at Daelim University of Republic of Korea. “Peace also means reducing violence， improving social justice and safeguarding human rights.”

“Peace is the only way out for human beings，” said Cao Lubao， a publicity official with Nanjing City. “People from all countries should take lessons from history and enhance communication.”

“國際和平城市協(xié)會”項目執(zhí)行會長弗雷德·阿門特在視頻講話中說：“第二次世界大戰(zhàn)時，在臭名昭著的南京大屠殺事件中，30多萬中國軍民喪生，另有2萬多婦女被強奸。這段歷史使得人們銘記這場戰(zhàn)爭，讓人們更深刻地認識到和平的重要性?！?/p>

南京位于中國東部的江蘇省，是中國的“六朝古都”。在1937年那個寒冷的冬天，日本侵略軍在這里進行了殘忍的大屠殺。每12秒就有一人被殺害。

目前已成為“國際和平城市”的有英國考文垂、瑞士伯爾尼、荷蘭阿姆斯特丹、德國柏林等。

聯(lián)合國教科文組織和平學教席、南京大學教授劉成介紹說，要想成為“國際和平城市”，需要具備一定的條件。

“比如在戰(zhàn)爭中受過創(chuàng)傷，或發(fā)生過重大的有關(guān)和平的事件，”他說，“以及長期致力于和平學的研究和推廣?！?/p>

劉教授所在的南京大學和平學研究所聯(lián)合南京大屠殺史與國際和平研究院向“國際和平城市協(xié)會”發(fā)出了申請報告。

他還說：“歷史留下的不是仇恨，而是我們對和平的認識。”

南京大屠殺史與國際和平研究院執(zhí)行院長張建軍說：“南京是在第二次世界大戰(zhàn)中飽受戰(zhàn)火摧殘的城市之一。南京大屠殺給我們留下了不可磨滅的記憶，所以我們更懂得和平的珍貴?！?/p>

南京一直都很重視和平教育。南京大學是中國首個開設(shè)和平學研究的高校。

日本非政府組織“和平之舟”的代表川崎哲表示，把南京指定為國際和平城市，能讓中國人珍惜和平，日本人也會反思自己。

韓國大林大學教授李智遠說：“和平不僅僅代表著沒有戰(zhàn)爭，還意味著減少暴力、促進社會正義和維護人權(quán)?！?/p>

南京市委宣傳部官員曹路寶說：“和平才是人間正道。全世界人民都應(yīng)從歷史中吸取教訓、加強溝通。”

significance /s?ɡ'n?f?k?ns/ n. 重要性；意義

witness /'w?tn?s/ v. 見證

India has witnessed many political changes in recent years.

indelible /?n'del?bl/ adj. 無法忘記的；不可磨滅的

emphasize /'emf?sa?z/ v. 強調(diào)；重視