Liu Tao, mayor of the Dongji township, said a museum dedicated to the Lisbon Maru rescue had been built in 2009, and historical artifacts and oral history had been added to it in recent years.

Kathy Williams, mayor of Gloucester, said she was very moved by the story, and by seeing the people who attended the event.

"If it hadn't been for the Chinese people's rescue, that room of people wouldn't have been here," she said. "It's a very moving thing, and a beautiful thing that happened today."

Williams said that she plans to get in touch with the Royal British Legion and try to get the Lisbon Maru's families to join the Remembrance Day parade in London on Nov 11, where they could lay a wreath at the memorial, to let more people know the story.

"We look forward to more events like this, so that this touching story of friendship can live on and be carried forward. The friendship between our two peoples can be further deepened," Zheng added.