(V-Day) China salutes war heroes, pledges not to seek hegemony or expansion

(V-Day) China salutes war heroes, pledges not to seek hegemony or expansion

China's “total victory'' over Japan in the second world war re-established it as a “major country,’’ President Xi Jinping told a ceremony in Beijing to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory today.

“The unyielding Chinese people fought gallantly and finally won total victory against the Japanese militarist aggressors, thus preserving China's 5,000-year-old civilization and upholding the cause of peace,'' Xi said, describing the conflict as “a decisive battle between justice and evil, between light and darkness.

He stressed that China will remain committed to peaceful development and will never seek hegemony or expansion.

"We Chinese love peace. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any other nation," Xi said.

But Xi said that China's military would be reduced by 300,000 troops.
He was speaking at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.


Following a brief speech, a black open-roof limousine carrying Xi drove along Chang'an Avenue in central Beijing. This marked the start of his inspection of the armed forces which assembled in Beijing today.—AFP/Xinhua

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