Lord Michael Bates, Minister of State at the Home Office in UK, plans to walk 1,600 kilometers in China for fundraising from July to October this year. He wants to raise 500,000 yuan to support China's public welfare project.

Since 2009, Bates began hiking for public welfare projects. From July to October this year, he planned to use personal vacation time for fundraising hiking in China, for the Sino-British cultural exchange and for commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. He and his wife will pass by five provinces including Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang with a distance of nearly 1,600 kilometers. The journey is estimated to take more than 60 days. During the time, he will visit ruins of the Sino-Japanese War and carry out cultural exchange and charitable activities along the road.

"I choose to hike in China this year. That's a decision made by my wife and me. My wife, Xuelin is a Chinese, this year is the first Sino-British Year of cultural exchange. We hope to celebrate the growing maturity of the friendly relations between the two countries through our charitable hiking in China," said Lord Bates.

"We also celebrates the 70th anniversary of the victory of the war against fascism this year. China paid a heavy price in the war against fascism. During the World War II, the United Kingdom and China were allies. We need to bear in mind the spirit of the anti-fascist coalition, always keep vigilant, and continue to work together." Bates added.

Nanjing will be an important city along Lord Bates' journey, "The city witnessed the catastrophe in human history, I would like to mourn the innocent victims of the war in Nanjing," he said.

Bates at first planed to take Nanjing as his destination of walking. However, Hangzhou is the hometown of his wife Xuelin. He wanted to visit his mother in law there. At last, he changed his destination to Hangzhou. "I walk to Nanjing for peace, and to Hangzhou for love," said Bates.

Lord Michael Bates, 54, a life peer, former deputy speaker of the British House of Lords and former vice-Chairman of the British Conservative Party, is currently Minister of State at the Home Office in UK.