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, in addition to the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan to its motherland China and the founding of the United Nations.

The Chinese people waged a magnificent War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression from 1931 to 1945. From the September 18th Incident in 1931, when Japanese troops stunned the world with their aggression, to July 7th Incident in 1937, the marking of Japan’s full-scale invasion into China, from the KMT-CPC Cooperation in resisting Japanese aggression, to the Communist Party of China becoming the mainstay of the whole nation’s war of resistance, from the painful memories of the Nanjing Massacre to the historic moment of Japanese unconditional surrender, each historical moment reminds us of remembering history, honoring fallen heroes, cherishing peace, and creating a better future. 

History is the best textbook. Let us cast our minds back to 80 years ago. On August 15th, 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender—a landmark event that represented the great victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. 

The World Anti-Fascist War was a war of unprecedented scale in the history of mankind, with more than 80 countries and regions and around 2 billion people involved. Countries and peoples that love peace and justice rose up to fight, and built a worldwide united front against Fascism. 

Through 14 years of tenacious and bloody resistance, and with enormous sacrifice of over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties, the Chinese people held ground in the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, which started the earliest and lasted the longest, and achieved a great victory in the war against Japanese aggression.

 The Chinese people not only safeguarded China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also provided crucial cooperation and support for the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, the Pacific War, and anti-Fascist campaigns in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia, which made indelible and irreplaceable contributions to the eventual victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. 

The great victory was the result of the united struggle of all compatriots of the Chinese nation together with its anti-Fascist allies and peoples worldwide, and will always be remembered in the history of the pursuit of justice for all humanity.

Forgetting history is a betrayal. We should draw lessons and inspirations from history and firmly uphold the victorious outcome of WWII. It is the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression that brought Taiwan back to China. Taiwan’s recovery is a significant achievement of the victory of the War, forged through the dauntless struggles and sacrifices of all Chinese people, including those in Taiwan, and formed an important part of the post-WWII international order.

 A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, proclaimed by main victors of WWII, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, have all affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. The historical and legal fact therein brooks no doubt.

 The UNGA Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, with the joint efforts of friendly countries including Tanzania, solemnly affirms the one-China principle, i.e. there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is a part of China. The Resolution brooks no challenge to its authority. Any attempt to distort the historical truth of WWII is doomed to failure. We call upon the whole world to uphold international fairness and justice, and defend the victorious outcome of WWII and the postwar international order. 

The historical trends of peace and development are unstoppable. The United Nations, ‌as the largest international organization safeguarding the postwar international order‌, will mark its 80th  anniversary this year at the same time. Our world today is living through accelerating changes unseen in a century; human society faces unprecedented challenges. 

80 years after the end of WWII, war is still the sword of Damocles that hangs over humanity; unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism are severely undermining our world; the deficits in peace, development, security and governance are growing. Again, humankind has come to a crossroads of unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation or zero-sum games. The more turbulent and complex the international situation becomes, the more we should uphold the UN founding mission and authority, firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

 China’s proposal for building a community with a shared future for humanity precisely builds on and further enriches the valuable experience gained through the victory of WWII, and represents China’s contribution to promoting peace and development for humanity, answering a question raised by the world, by history, and by the times: “Where is humanity headed?” China stands ready to work with the international community to implement the community with a shared future for humanity, put into action the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and continuously promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

 Remembering history enables us to forge ahead for a better future. China and Africa share common historical experiences of suffering colonial oppression and fighting for national independence and liberation. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression received sympathy and invaluable support from peace-loving and justice-upholding peoples across the world, including the important support from the African people. Africa was a key battleground and reliable overseas base for anti-Fascist allies during WWII. 

About 1.5 million people from over 30 African countries joined the front lines, and approximately 2.5 million Africans supported logistics, supply and military engineering missions. In the fight for national liberation and independence of Southern Africa, the Chinese and African peoples supported each other through thick and thin and forged unbreakable friendship. From the perspective of history and the trend of the times, ‌Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and other Chinese leaders of the older generation followed closely the national liberation struggles of people worldwide, firmly supported Africa’s fight against imperialism, colonialism, and hegemonism, and took concrete actions to enable African countries in their national liberation movements. 

In the 1970s, despite its own economic challenges, China helped build TAZARA Railway and made indelible contributions to shattering the imperialist and colonialist containment and blockade against Frontline States. The China-Africa friendship has stood the test of time and grown stronger with closer cooperation. In the new era, China has continued to enhance cooperation with Africa through the FOCAC and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation framework, turned its development opportunities into China-Africa cooperation benefits, and brought modernization gains to more African people. 

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, “We must learn from history, especially the hard lessons of the Second World War. We must draw wisdom and strength from the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and resolutely resist all forms of hegemonism and power politics. We must work together to build a brighter future for humanity.” 

There is also a common saying in Swahili, “Amani ni msingi wa maendeleo.” (Peace is the foundation of development.) At this important historical juncture, we reflect on history, not only to honor hardships and triumphs, but more importantly, to pass the torch of peace down to generations, foster shared prosperity among nations and advance toward a brighter future for our world.