This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. 80 years ago, after 14 years of bloody and unyielding struggle, the Chinese people achieved a great victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, standing shoulder to shoulder with all peace-loving peoples around the world to defeat fascism and uphold the conscience of humanity, as well as international fairness and justice. 80 years later, the profound lessons and insights from this war continue to provoke deep reflection. As an ancient Chinese saying goes: “Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.” At this moment, I would like to join our friends in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in reflecting on this chapter of history, drawing lessons from the past, and jointly exploring how to write a new chapter of peace and development amid profound changes unseen in a century. 

I. The China theater was the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War 

In 1931, Japanese aggressors launched the September 18 Incident[1], marking the beginning of the war of aggression against China and the beginning of the World War II in Asia. 

The Chinese people were the first to raise the banner against fascism, firing the opening shot of the global anti-fascist struggle, and opening up the earliest and longest-lasting main Eastern battlefield in the World Anti-Fascist War. During the 14-year War of Resistance, China confronted the largest number of Japanese military and paid the heaviest price, suffering over 35 million military and civilian casualties, accounting for more than one-third of the global total in World War II. The Chinese people forged themselves with flesh and blood into a steel Great Wall against fascism, fought with extraordinary resilience, pinned down and eliminated the main forces of Japanese fascism, provided crucial strategic coordination for Allied operations, and helped forge the international anti-fascist united front, made an indelible contribution to the final victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. 

At the critical juncture of national survival and ethnic peril, the Communist Party of China stepped forward and took the lead, uniting and guiding people of all ethnic groups to establish the Chinese united front against Japanese aggression. With outstanding political leadership and sound strategic planning, it consistently guided the course of China’s War of Resistance, playing a pivotal role in resisting foreign invasion and saving the nation. The victory in the War of Resistance successfully safeguarded China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, upheld the dignity of the Chinese nation, and marked a historic turning point in the Chinese nation’s journey from a century of humiliation to rejuvenation. At the same time, it made a significant contribution to world peace and the establishment of the postwar international order. 

II. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, a fact that is beyond dispute and allows no change 

Following the great victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Taiwan returned to the embrace of the motherland. This year thus also marks the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery. The restoration of Taiwan constitutes one of the major outcomes of World War II and an integral component of the postwar international order, reflecting the international community’s commitment to justice and righteousness. 

In 1943, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom issued the Cairo Declaration, which stated that Japan must return all territories it had stolen from China, including Northeast China, Taiwan, and the Penghu Islands. In 1945, the Potsdam Proclamation reaffirmed that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. Later that year, Japan surrendered unconditionally and pledged to fulfill all provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation. These international documents conclusively established China’s sovereignty over Taiwan, a historical and jurisprudential fact that allows no room for doubt. In 1971, the Twenty-sixth Session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, recognizing the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal representative of China to the United Nations. The resolution established the universal international consensus that there is but one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. The historical and jurisprudential facts concerning Taiwan’s status as part of China are unequivocally clear. We hope that our friends in the KRI can remain sober-minded and firm on this issue: Taiwan has never been a country. There is only one China in the world, and both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. 

III. The most important lesson from the victory in the War is that we must stay firmly committed to the path of peaceful development 

At present, the world is witnessing accelerating changes unseen in a century. The Ukraine crisis remains protracted and  tensions in the Middle East remain high, the Gaza conflict is unresolved, and hostilities between Israel and Iran have flared up again. Certain major powers are abusing tariff sticks by applying unilateralism. Deficits in peace, development, security and governance continue to widen. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized that “the most valuable lesson left to us by the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is the unwavering commitment to the path of peaceful development.” War only brings immense suffering. Bullying and hegemony are destined to fail. Only by upholding multilateralism and respecting the sovereignty and development rights of all countries can we prevent the tragedies of history from recurring. In this regard, China upholds the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and advanced the Belt and Road Initiative. These efforts aim to inject more certainty into an uncertain world and demonstrate the sense of responsibility and leadership expected of a major country. 

VI. China and the KRI enjoy a solid foundation for cooperation and broad prospects for the future 

China and the KRI share a long-standing and profound friendship. In recent years, the two sides have achieved fruitful outcomes in cooperation under the Belt and Road framework. China values growing relations with both Iraq and KRI, and is committed to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, working together to achieve common development. 

Recently, a growing number of Chinese enterprises have invested and established operations in the KRI. The two sides have engaged in extensive cooperation in key sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and infrastructure, injecting strong momentum into the Region’s economic development. At the same time, both parties are actively exploring collaboration in emerging fields including new energy, the digital economy, and high-tech manufacturing, jointly promoting the KRI’s economic diversification and sustainable development. We also carry out cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The Chinese Department of Salahaddin University, the China Studies Center at the University of Sulaimani, and the Global Civilization Initiative Studies Center in the KRI are all pioneering in Iraq. This year, the University of Sulaimani will additionally establish a Chinese Language Testing Center, providing a platform for local people to learn Chinese and better understand China. Upholding the principle of “empower through capacity-building,” China has facilitated training programs for over 1,000 individuals from various sectors in the KRI visiting China, enabling them to learn from and draw on China’s development experience, thereby helping accelerate the Region’s path toward growth and prosperity. 

Peace is truly precious, and history must never be forgotten. Commemorating the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is not only to honor the fallen heroes but also to look toward the future, uphold justice, and safeguard peace.  China is willing to work with friends from all sectors in the region to carry forward and promote the spirit of the World Anti-Fascist War, promote the evolution of the international order toward greater justice, inclusiveness, and lasting peace, jointly pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, draw a brighter blueprint for modernization, and make unremitting efforts to build a community with a shared future for humanity.