Four ambassadors from China, Russia publish articles on V-Day anniversary supporting post-war international order
Photo: Yang Hui/GT
China and Russia, two countries that fought hard during World War II, jointly commemorated the 75th anniversary of the V-Day on Thursday. Top leaders of the two countries exchanged messages, pledging to join efforts with the international community to resolutely safeguard world peace and prevent a repeat of WWII.
China and Russia, respectively the main battlefield in Asia and Europe, made great national sacrifices for and made indelible historic contributions to victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, said Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Xi recalled the friendship developed between the Chinese and Russian peoples through fighting side by side, which laid a solid foundation for the high-level development of bilateral relations.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia both shoulder important responsibilities for world peace and development, Xi stressed, suggesting that the two sides actively uphold and practice multilateralism, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind along with the international community.
In the morning, President Xi and other Party and state leaders paid tribute to martyrs and presented a floral basket at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of the memorial day that world leaders have an obligation to prevent a repeat of WWII.
"This is the task of world leaders, responsible politicians, public figures and everyone who realizes how fragile the modern world is," Putin said during an open lesson to schoolchildren on Tuesday.
Russia this year voted to move the day commemorating the end of World War II in Asia from September 2 to 3, arguing that it did so to benefit the veterans still alive. After the end of the war, they were awarded medals engraved with the words "For the victory over Japan" and the date September 3.
Exhibitions and film screenings were held in Russia to commemorate this chapter in history, and people visited cemeteries to pay tribute to martyrs.
On Thursday, Chinese and Russian ambassadors to the US jointly wrote an article stressing that the best way to commemorate the war is to avoid the repeat of such a tragedy.
Photo: Yang Hui/GT
Russia and China will stay committed to the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, push forward cooperation as good neighbors and friends, promote global stability and security, and contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of all countries, according to the article.
The joint article is addressed to the American people and was published on US site defenseone.com on Thursday. This was an unprecedented case of high-ranking diplomats of the two countries uniting their efforts to convey a common position in the host country, Russian media reported.
In the face of global threats and challenges, the victorious nations of World War II — especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council — based on their shared memory of fighting side-by-side, should reflect on their special responsibilities, strengthen mutual trust and cooperation, and follow the principles of mutual respect, equality, peaceful development, and common prosperity, according to the joint article.
Photo: Yang Hui/GT
The article also called for people to give up a zero-sum game mentality and realize the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Also, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui and Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov jointly published an article in Rossiyskaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper published by the Russian government, on Thursday, pledging that the two countries will firmly uphold the legacy of victory in WWII, support and practice multilateralism, and are willing to continue to work together to contribute to world peace and global development.
On this special day, China did not arrange a military parade but held other sorts of official and non-official commemorations.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held a ceremony in Memorial Garden. After the flag-raising and national anthem, an honor guard fired in salute to martyrs in the war. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam attended the ceremony along with other officials, including former chief executives Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, director of central government's liaison office Luo Huining, and head of the office for safeguarding national security of the central government in Hong Kong Zheng Yanxiong.
Many Chinese residents chose to visit historical sites related to the war to commemorate this history. People also posted their reflections on history online. The hashtag "75th anniversary of victory of War Against Japanese Aggression" has been viewed 340 million times on Sina Weibo.
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