Belgian city honors 'Chinese Schindler' for WWII heroics

The Belgian city of Ecaussinnes paid solemn tribute on Friday to Qian Xiuling, also known as Madame Siou-Ling Tsien de Perlinghi, unveiling a commemorative portrait at the communal council chamber and recalling her heroic acts during World War II.

The event, jointly organized by the Chinese embassy and the local government, also marked the preview of a photo exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and WWII.

Born in 1912 in eastern China's Jiangsu province, Qian pursued chemistry at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and earned a doctorate in chemical sciences. She later married Belgian physician Gregoire de Perlinghi and settled in Ecaussinnes.