Victory celebrations salute past sacrifices and cherish the peace and progress they won: China Daily editorial

China announced on Tuesday that it will hold a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War during which President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech.

Among the activities planned is a military parade in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, to be held on Sept 3, as part of the grand gathering. All this speaks volumes of the significance that China attaches to the great triumph that the nation, along with other countries around the world, achieved eight decades ago.

Such commemorative activities, aimed at ensuring historical memory and truth do not fade with the passage of time, are of even greater significance today when hegemonism and power politics are once again roiling the world. Learning from history, which mirrors the present and illuminates the future, China stands resolutely on the right side of history. It eschews a regressive retreat into a divisive Cold War framework in the face of the profound changes facing the world in favor of realizing its vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was achieved at a tremendous cost of human lives and property. China alone suffered more than 35 million casualties, both military and civilian; and its direct economic losses exceeded $100 billion and indirect economic losses totaled more than $500 billion, calculated at the price in 1937.

As the main theater on the eastern front of the World Anti-Fascist War, China served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism, making a pivotal contribution to securing victory in the war.

China was able to emerge victorious thanks to the struggle of the countless brave sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, many of whom laid down their lives, as well as the assistance they received from people from around the world. The triumph not only crushed the ambition of the Japanese militarists to enslave China, but also changed centuries of national humiliation at the hands of foreign aggressors. This great triumph won the Chinese people respect from around the world, and opened up bright prospects for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Thus the victory has been, and should forever be remembered and celebrated. Certainly, the Chinese people will never forget the human cost of the war, nor the extensive support they received from the international community. It is through these solemn commemorations that people can truly appreciate the invaluable gift of peace.

But even 80 years on, as the nation prepares to mark this moment, there are still forces in Japan trying to whitewash its history of aggression and bury the crimes it committed during the war in forgetfulness and ignorance. Peace-loving people around the world must ensure they do not succeed, so that the lessons of history can be properly learned.

This makes the victory celebration even more relevant. The Chinese people do not want to prolong hatred, but only by remembering the bitter lessons of war can people in different countries ensure that history does not repeat itself.

Charting the right course for the world at the current historical inflection point,?President Xi has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative that map the way to a peaceful and prosperous world based on rejecting unilateralism and confrontation in favor of multilateralism and dialogue.

These call on all countries to join hands to champion a fair, equal and orderly multipolar world, and to uphold multilateralism and the basic norms governing international relations, and to safeguard the international order established on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

The world today is facing grave challenges, with armed conflicts and regional wars caused by territorial, religious and resource disputes being waged unabated. Many countries are beset with difficulties in advancing their development and huge numbers of people in those countries are still living in poverty. Meanwhile, trade protectionism, unilateralism and hegemonism have come to the fore disrupting the global industry and supply chains, and intensifying geopolitical rivalries.

At such a time, the nation's historical remembrance will provide another chance for people around the world to better appreciate the sacrifices that were made on their behalf. They should cherish the postwar progress and, with a sense of urgency, work together to carry it forward. The collective pursuit of development and common prosperity is the best way to mark the historic victory against the forces of fascism and imperialism.