Students look at the original documents on display at the photo exhibition on the Jewish refugees in Shanghai, held in Dallas, the U.S. state of Texas, on Sept. 16, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)

by Xinhua writer Zhang Yongxing

DALLAS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- It was a "greatest moment" in Chinese history that Shanghai had hosted many Jewish refugees during World War II, a well-known Dallas-based scholar said Friday.

"It's really a model for the 21st Century to seek," Dennis Kratz, executive chair of the Confucius Institute Executive Board and Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), said, commenting on a photo exhibition on the Jewish refugees in Shanghai.

"This ... made Shanghai an international community that welcomes and braces integrated others into its community," he said.

The 30-day exhibition, jointly organized by the UTD Confucius Institute and the Ackerman Center of Holocaust Studies, displays 40 photos and dozens of artifacts on the life of Jewish refugees living in Shanghai some 70 years ago.

"Holocaust was one of the moments in history that represents the depth to which the humanity can sink. The corollary of this is that it represents the moment that community and government such as Shanghai can rise above the challenge that World War II began its post, to reach out and welcome refugees to ensure," the scholar said.

Dennis, aged over 70, also stressed the importance of the U.S.-China relations, saying the two great countries must work together to build a new world.

"We established the Confucius Institute in 2007. It's now in its 10th year. I believe it's one of the most important introductions to this University. China and the United States are two great cultural powers, as well as intellectual and economic powers. We need to grow and get along, and collaborate a way to create a harmonious new world," he said.

A student looks at documents on display at the photo exhibition on the Jewish refugees in Shanghai, held in Dallas, the U.S. state of Texas, on Sept. 16, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)

Some UTD students also showed keen interest in the exhibition, which opened on Sept. 1 and features a Chinese folk music concert, "Wind from the East," on Sept. 25.

"This photo exhibition seems very interesting. I've never heard that Jewish refugees in Shanghai before. So it's very interesting to learn about that," Keagon Mcdearmon, 20, said.

"I'm also very interested in it. My family was Jews from Russia. So I will learn more about Jews and how they escaped from their condition during World War II," Amanda Karasic, 21, told Xinhua.

Natalie Nduku, 24, who is from Africa, said that "I actually have never heard of Jews migration during Holocaust to Shanghai. It's a very fascinating exhibition and an opportunity to learn as well."

Shi Lanxin, associate director of the Confucius Institute, said that this exhibition is special and it touches the Americans' hearts.

"This exhibition is an excellent one. It will touch American people's hearts. It has shown how nice and brave the Chinese people are through these events," Shi said.