Xi Jinping
Beijing, 3 September 2015

Your Excellencies Visiting Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished Representatives of the United Nations and Other International Organizations,
Distinguished Heads of Foreign Delegations,
Foreign Military Observation Delegations and Foreign Diplomatic Missions in China, Distinguished Guests,
Veteran Soldiers and Old Comrades,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comrades and Friends,

Let me begin by extending, on behalf of the government and people of China and in my own name, sincere welcome to all the veteran soldiers, old comrades, old militias, old models in support of the frontline, and the families of wartime martyrs, all the patriotic personages and ranking military officers who fought in the war of resistance or their families, and all the guests and friends present here. I wish to express my warmest congratulations of this victory day to all of you, to Chinese people of all ethnic groups and to people all over the world!

In Tian'anmen Square this morning, history staged a flashback, bringing all of us back to the extraordinary moment 70 years ago when justice prevailed over evil, light over darkness and progress over reaction. On the arrival of the news of victory, the entire country of China seethed with excitement. Folks were overwhelmed with joy, cheering, crying, celebrating the hard-won victory and the dawning of peace.

The victory of the World Anti-Fascist War shattered the scheme of fascists and militarists to dominate the world through war, terminated the historical chapter of great powers carving up the world through colonialism, and broke up for good the colonial system that had existed for centuries, thus exerting a significant and far-reaching impact on the promotion of world peace and common development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Comrades and Friends,

In the thicket of that most arduous and bitter war against aggressors, and at the critical juncture when the survival of the nation was at stake, there was an outpouring of patriotism from the Chinese people like a volcanic eruption. Rallying under the banner of national united front against Japanese aggression as championed by the Chinese Communist Party, China's 400 million people fought courageously with one heart and one mind. Using their own flesh and blood, they forged a Great Wall of iron and steel, salvaging the country and defending its national dignity and wrote down a great chapter of fending off external domination in the nation's history.

China's victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was a great triumph won by the Chinese people fighting shoulder to shoulder with their anti-fascist allies and the people throughout the world. As the Eastern main theater of the anti-fascist war, China's war of resistance made a critical contribution to its worldwide victory.

No force is greater than working together with one mind. It was the common cry for freedom, justice and peace, and for security, tranquility and people's well-being that brought together men and women in uniform and without from anti-fascist allies and other forces across Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, fighting against the common enemy and forging a powerful force to stop the scourge of the evil from spreading.

We the Chinese will never forget the invaluable support given by the peace-loving and justice-upholding countries, peoples and international organizations to our fight against Japanese aggressors. The Soviet Union provided tremendous material support to our war of resistance. The American "Flying Tigers" took great risks in opening the Hump route. A large number of anti-fascist fighters from Korea, Viet Nam, Canada, India, New Zealand, Poland, Denmark, as well as from Germany, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria and Japan participated directly in our war of resistance. Dr. Norman Bethune of Canada and Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis of India came all the way to China to treat the wounded and rescue the dying. Dr. Jean Bussiere of France opened his own "Hump" route to transport medicine with bicycles. John Rabe of Germany and Dr. Bernhard Arp Sindberg of Denmark worked courageously and resourcefully to protect Chinese refugees from harm in the Rape of Nanjing. Michael Lindsay of Britain, internationalist fighter Hans Schippe, and other journalists covered China's war of resistance and told the rest of the world stories of China's heroism. Toward the end of the war, the Soviet Red Army moved into China's Northeast, sweeping the Japanese aggressors there together with Chinese military and people, which hastened the Japanese defeat. All these stories remain popular among the Chinese people.

Here, I wish to express, on behalf of the government and people of China, my heartfelt gratitude to all foreign governments, international organizations and friends from other countries that gave assistance and help to the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Comrades and Friends,

History may have twists and turns but is bound to go steadily forward. The victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War once again speaks eloquently that the tide of history with justice prevailing over evil is irresistible. Going against that tide is doomed to failure.

Success in creating a better future hinges on correctly understanding history. History is etched on people's hearts and minds. It brooks no denial, nor can it be written off. Those brutal acts of aggression, the horror in the battlefield, the hair-raising crimes of massacre and the tens of millions of innocent lives tragically lost in the war are all chiseled in the annals of human history and kept in the collective memory of mankind.

Lessons inked in blood must not be forgotten. Indeed, past history was not the work of those who live today. But without understanding the past, today's people will not be able to grasp the present or open up a better future.

We commemorate the victory of our war of resistance and the world anti-fascist war and condemn the brutality of the aggressors. We do this to rekindle the yearning for and commitment to peace, not to prolong hatred.

Over time, history will be something of a more distant past, but the inspirations and lessons of history, recognize it or not, will stay forever. All people, be they from countries fighting bravely against foreign aggressors or from countries launching the aggressive wars, be they who went through those trying years or those who were born afterwards, must have a right outlook of history and remember the inspirations and lessons of history by heart.

What history taught us is a valuable asset that belongs to all mankind. Forgetting history is tantamount to betrayal. The victorious outcome of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War must not be challenged. The sacrifice made by tens of millions in the quest for independence, freedom and peace must not be denied. All rhetoric and actions that deny the nature of aggressive wars, that distort and even glorify those wars, or that evade the historical responsibility for launching those wars, are self-deceiving, no matter in what way they are presented or how glibly they may be characterized. "A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust one finds little support." Denying the past aggression is to make a mockery of history, and constitutes an insult to human conscience. Such a behavior can only lead to a loss of credibility in the eyes of people all over the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Comrades and Friends,

Peace does not come by easily and must be defended resolutely. With a painful memory of the past, the Chinese people have persistently committed themselves to a path of peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening-up, working hard to foster friendship and cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and uphold world peace unswervingly. A stronger and more developed China will mean a stronger force for world peace.

It is our sincere hope that all countries will draw wisdom and strength from history, pursue peaceful development and work together to open up a more promising future for world peace.

Now, please join me in a toast:

To the great victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression;

To the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War;

To the solidarity and friendship of people of all countries;

To the bright future of mankind with lasting peace and common prosperity; and

To the health o f everyone present.

Cheers!