On the morning of September 3, a grand ceremony was held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the event and reviewed the spectacular military parade.
At President Xi’s invitation, 26 foreign heads of state and government attended the ceremony. Invited by the Chinese government, speakers of parliament, deputy prime ministers, high-level representatives, heads of international organizations, and former political leaders from various countries were also present. In addition, foreign ambassadors, military attachés, and representatives of international organizations stationed in China joined the commemoration. Fifty supportive friends of China from 14 countries—including Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada—along with their families, were also invited.
In his speech, President Xi expressed the highest respect to veteran soldiers, veteran comrades, patriots, and anti-Japanese generals who fought in the War of Resistance, as well as to overseas Chinese who made important contributions to the victory. He also conveyed heartfelt gratitude to foreign governments and international friends who had supported the Chinese people in resisting aggression. He warmly welcomed the distinguished international guests present at the gathering.
President Xi emphasized that the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was both a monumental and arduous struggle, and a vital part of the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese people made tremendous national sacrifices and significant contributions to safeguarding human civilization and global peace. He noted that today, humanity once again faces a choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win cooperation or zero-sum rivalry. Xi affirmed that the Chinese people will always stand on the right side of history and the advancement of human civilization, remain firmly committed to peaceful development, and work hand in hand with peoples of all nations to build a community with a shared future for humankind.
Following the speech, a massive military parade took place at Tiananmen Square—the first of its kind since China embarked on its journey of advancing Chinese-style modernization. The parade consisted of marching formations, flag-bearing formations, equipment formations, and aerial formations.
The parade not only showcased a new generation of advanced weaponry but also highlighted the restructured composition of China’s armed services. All the displayed weapons and equipment were domestically developed, representing the nation’s latest core defense capabilities. Many items were publicly unveiled for the first time, including land-, sea-, and air-based strategic weapons, precision-strike systems, and unmanned combat systems. Together, they fully demonstrated the People’s Liberation Army’s formidable capacity to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, while also upholding world peace.
On Wednesday evening, a cultural gala titled “Justice Shall Prevail” was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to commemorate the anniversary. President Xi Jinping, along with representatives from participating countries, attended and enjoyed the performance.
Source: Lily–Hashim–Tuhina, China Media Group