Distinguished guests,

Dear friends,

It is a great pleasure to join you to together commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, I would like to extend warm congratulations on the successful opening of the event, and heartfelt thanks to friends from various sectors who have long been caring for and supporting the cause of friendship between our two peoples.  

Music is a language of the soul, which connects hearts, inspires goodness, and conveys hope. Film is a medium of information, which records the past, reflects the present, and guides the way forward. By reliving the era of war over eight decades ago through film and music tonight, we can better remember history, recognize our mission today, and chart the course for the future.

We need to honor history, and uphold justice as the main theme. The Chinese people were the first to stand up against Japanese fascist aggression, thus firing the first shot in the World Anti-Fascist War. With 14 years of strenuous resistance and over 35 million casualties, China made vital contributions as the pillar of the main Eastern battlefield.

In those dark times, the people of China and the United States shared weal and woe and fought aggressors side by side, writing an epic of friendship through life and death. The Flying Tigers headed to China to provide precious help, the “Hump Route” delivered hope in ice and snow, the Stilwell Road served as a crucial lifeline for the front, and the “Doolittle Raid” rescue operation epitomized mutual assistance in hardship. With courageous resistance and solidarity, the Chinese people, together with the American people, saved human civilization and defended world peace, testifying to the great truth of history: justice will prevail, peace will prevail, and the people will prevail. We need to always bear in mind and treasure that chapter of history, and always stand for the truth, human conscience and justice.

We need to cherish peace, and compose a symphony of harmony. War will bring only disaster and suffering, while peace fosters development and hope. History cautions us that we all rise and fall together. Only when all countries and nations treat each other as equals, coexist in peace and support each other, can we safeguard common peace, eradicate the root causes of war, and prevent tragedies from repeating themselves.

The world today is far from tranquil. The Cold-War mentality is on the rise. Power politics is running rampant. Geopolitical conflicts keep flaring up. Unilateralism and bloc confrontation are escalating. Instabilities and uncertainties are mounting. We need to always bear in mind the painful lessons of World War II and our original aspiration to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”, adhere to resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, resolutely say no to warmongering, hegemonism and bullying, and jointly build a common home of peace and amity.

We need to keep our eyes on the future, and write a new chapter of cooperation. Eighty years later, humanity is again at a crossroads. Which should we choose: unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win results or zero-sum game? We need to draw wisdom and inspiration from history and reality, and find the right way forward. We need to always champion true multilateralism and uphold international fairness and justice; always stay committed to peaceful coexistence and follow the path of peaceful development; and always devote ourselves to win-win cooperation and build synergy for shared development. The Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization. We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development, and make joint efforts with people globally to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Dear friends,

Eighty years ago, China and the United States fought shoulder to shoulder against fascist aggression. Today, our two countries have more extensive common interests, vaster space for cooperation, and more important international responsibilities, and should all the more demonstrate the vision and play our role as major countries. Let us work together under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, compose a resounding symphony of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between our two countries, sail the giant ship of China-U.S. relations forward along the route of steady, sound and sustainable development, and join hands with people around the world to create a better future of lasting peace and shared prosperity.

Thank you very much.