By Zhang Limin, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The invasive war launched by fascism and militarism over seven decades ago inflicted unprecedented catastrophe upon many countries and their people in Asia，Europe, Africa and Oceania. All the peace-loving countries and people around the world formed an international united front, paid a heavy price and finally won the great victory of this war.
China, a main battlefield during the Anti-Fascist War, sacrificed over 35 million soldiers and civilians for the victory of the war and made a great contribution to safeguard peace and civilization of mankind. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression received valuable support from the world peace-loving countries and people. The Chinese people will always remember and recall the friends and soldiers who fight shoulder by shoulder and laid down their lives for the cause of independence of the Chinese nation.
China will hold solemn commemorative activities in September this year. By remembering history and recalling the martyrs, we want to evoke people’s commitment to peace and justice, cherish the hard earned peace and avoid a repeat of the tragedy of war. We must bear in mind the painful lesson of war and firmly oppose any attempt and actions negating or distorting the history of World War II and whitewashing fascism and militarism.
Profound and complex changes have taken place in the international architecture over the past seven decades. Peace and development is an irreversible trend of the times. Economic globalization has turned all countries into a community of common destiny. No country can achieve development or prosperity without peaceful and stable international environment. Peace, development and win-win cooperation have become the common aspiration of the people around the world
As a staunch force for world peace, China advocates mutual respect, equality in the international relations, upholds justice while pursuing shared interests，champions a vision featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, promotes peaceful coexistence and mutual learning of different civilizations and endeavours to build a new model of international relations underpinned by win-win cooperation. China has played a constructive role in maintaining the international order and system with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as the cornerstone.
China’s economic strength has been greatly enhanced after over 30 years of reform and opening-up. Its annual average contribution to the growth of the world economy reached almost 25%. China is the major engine which takes the world economy out of the international financial crisis.
The rapid development of China’s economy has also created bigger market, more sufficient finance and broader opportunities of cooperation for the world.
While seeking a peaceful international environment for its development, China promotes world peace through its own development. China has actively participated in the peace-keeping missions of the United Nations and proactively promoted peace talks on the international and regional hot-spot issues. China stays committed to resolving the disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime interests and rights with neighbouring countries through dialogue and consultations and makes vital contributions to the peace and stability of Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
The Chinese nation has been peace-loving throughout the ages and holds that peace is of paramount importance. We will be unswervingly committed to the path of peaceful development and stand ready to conduct mutually-beneficial and friendly cooperation and build a partnership of equality, peace and inclusiveness based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence with all countries in the world. China will never follow the beaten path that a strong country is bound to seek hegemony nor will it seek aggression or expansion. China will continue to be an upholder of international fairness and justice as well as a promoter of world peace and development.
Past experience, if not forgotten, can be a guide for the future. The Chinese people are ready to join hands with the people around the world to summarize history, safeguard peace and cooperate closely for a bright future of development, prosperity and win-win cooperation.
