July 13, 2025, marked the eighth anniversary of the passing of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. A commemoration event was jointly organized in Paris by renowned German human rights pastor Roland Kühne and Ms. Liao Tianqi, president of Sino Euro Voices. Democracy advocates, scholars, writers from Europe, the Americas, and Taiwan, as well as multiple Chinese Christians, were invited to attend.
The event, themed “A Life Devoted to Faith and Ideals,” was divided into two parts: a memorial service and a thematic seminar.
At 10:30 a.m. local time, the memorial service was held at Christuskirche in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. The host, Pastor Kühne, stated in his address:
“Pursuing freedom and democracy until the end of his life—this is the spirit of Liu Xiaobo.”
At 2:00 p.m. local time, a seminar was held near the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris. The host, Ms. Liao Tianqi, noted that Liu Xiaobo is “a symbol of contemporary China’s spirit of freedom,” leaving behind not only the Charter 08 but also a legacy of conscience rooted in people’s hearts.
Attendees included French Sinologist Marie Holzman, Chinese democracy activists Wang Dan, Wang Juntao, and Hu Ping, former secretary-general of the German PEN Center Herbert Wiesner, and Sino Euro Voices editor-in-chief Pan Yongzhong. They took turns to deliver remarks reflecting on Liu Xiaobo’s intellectual contributions and spiritual legacy. A Chinese Christian invited to the event also spoke, sharing her insights and commitment to faith, courage, and freedom.
The seminar focused on topics such as “Upholding and Promoting Liu Xiaobo’s Ideals” and “The Future of Constitutionalism in China.” Some attendees participated online, expressing their concerns and aspirations for China’s democratic progress.
All present participants took group photos when the event concluded. Attendees emphasized that, although it has been eight years since Liu Xiaobo’s passing, his steadfast faith and ideals continue to resonate across generations, inspiring countless individuals yearning for freedom.
