On September 3, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Ouyang Yujing and Russian Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Naiyl Latypov have issued a joint article titled “The Contribution of the Chinese and Soviet Peoples to Victory in World War II: Remember History and Build Better Future”, which has been published on Malaysia’s mainstream Chinese-, English-, and Malay-language media. Full text as follows:

1) The Unprecedented Scale of World War II

On September 3, the whole world celebrates the day of the end of the World War II, the most destructive and violent conflict in human history. It affected more than 2 billion people in 60 countries, caused untold casualties and economic destruction, and has no analogues in terms of the number of victims - more than 60 million civilians died as a result of the aggressive actions of Germany and Japan, as well as their satellites. 

2) The Soviet People’s Contribution to Victory

The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people against fascist Germany, which began on June 22, 1941, with the treacherous attack of Nazi troops, became an integral part of the global war. For 1,418 days and nights, at the cost of unparalleled heroism and self-sacrifice both at the front and in the rear, Soviet soldiers and all the peoples of the former USSR bore the full burden of the struggle against fascism, which was based on a misanthropic theory of the superiority of some people over others.

Soviet people paid an enormous price – the Red Army lost about 8.5 million soldiers, but the majority of the victims – around 19 million – were civilians: children, women and the elderly.

Therefore, the Great Victory will continue to be a national pride and the basis for teaching the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism for Russia. 

3) The Chinese People’s Contribution to Victory

As the main Eastern battle field of the World Anti-Fascist War, China’s War of resistance against Japanese aggression began the earliest, lasted the longest, and entailed the greatest sacrifices, playing a decisive role in the complete defeat of the Japanese aggressors. The Communist Party of China fought courageously on the front lines, serving as the backbone of the nationwide resistance. The Chinese people, at the cost of more than 35 million military and civilian casualties, made an indelible contribution to the final Victory.

During the years of hardship, the Chinese and Soviet people stood side by side. The coordinated actions, the exchange of military and material resources, as well as political support played a key role in the successful outcome of the struggle.

The people of the two countries will always remember and cherish the profound friendship forged in the flames of war, a bond that stands as a testament to their shared sacrifices and enduring solidarity.

4) Lessons from the Past – Safeguarding Peace. Rejecting Attempts to Falsify Common History

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II. Humanity should not forget the lessons of history. The peoples of the planet must continue to spread the best traditions, cherish, value and protect justice. We must defend with all our hearts and efforts, jointly support peace and development, stop the resurgence of fascism and militarism, and ensure that such tragedies are never repeated.

To remember history is to safeguard the victorious outcome of the Second World War. The post-war international order and its historical and legal facts brook no dispute. The return of the Taiwan region to China is also an integral part of the Victory of World War II. China and Russia stand ready to work with all countries to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, jointly oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice true multilateralism, work together to build a peaceful world and a community with a shared future for humanity.

On 4 March 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution “The Eightieth Anniversary of the End of World War II” proposed by Russia. The document was co-authored by China and Malaysia among other more than 50 States. We welcome Malaysia's support for this resolution, reaffirming its commitment to the historical truth. The promotion of this document is the part of the ongoing multilateral efforts to preserve the truth about the outcome of World War II. It recalls that the end of World War II created the conditions for the establishment of the United Nations, and calls on all countries to unite in the fight against challenges and threats to international peace and security with the central role of the UN. The adoption of this thematic resolution is a tribute to the heroism of our common ancestors, who gave all mankind freedom from destructive ideologies, a tribute to the memory of the heroes who fought against Nazism, fascism and militarism, as well as to the millions of civilian victims of this global catastrophe – a tragedy the world must never allow to happen again.