CGTN published an article explaining why China is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The piece emphasizes that the commemorations aim to cherish peace and build a better future. The article highlights how China has become a stabilizing force for global peace through concrete actions and contributions to international governance. It also underscores China’s efforts to promote a fairer global governance system and work with other countries toward a community with a shared future for humanity.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War – an occasion China is observing under the theme: bear history in mind, honor all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace and open up the future.
The commemoration will reach its peak on the morning of September 3, when a grand gathering, including a military parade, is held in Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square. President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a keynote address, host world leaders and review the troops, with a commemorative gala held in the evening at the Great Hall of the People.
For China, the anniversary is not just about revisiting the past. As Xi has emphasized, “Remembering history does not mean being obsessed with the past. Rather, in doing so, we aim to create a better future and pass the torch of peace from generation to generation.”
A pillar of peaceful development
Leading a nation with a long tradition of seeking peace, shaped by its struggles against militarism, imperialism and fascism in its recent past, Xi has consistently championed the vision of building a peaceful world.
He has repeatedly pledged that no matter how strong China becomes, it will never seek hegemony or expansion.
This promise is not just rhetoric. China is the only country in the world that includes a pledge to “keep to a path of peaceful development” in its Constitution and the only nuclear-armed state to commit to no first use of nuclear weapons. It is also the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the UN Security Council’s permanent members and the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping.
Beyond commitments, China has acted – brokering reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran and supporting efforts toward unity among Palestinian factions.
Supporting equitable global governance
Chairing the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” Meeting on September 1, Xi proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). “I look forward to working with all countries for a more just and equitable global governance system and advancing toward a community with a shared future for humanity,” he said.
The proposal builds on China’s broader efforts to strengthen the voice of the Global South. Under Xi’s leadership, China has championed the expansion of BRICS and supported the African Union’s accession to the G20, moves that give developing countries greater representation in global decision-making.
The Chinese president has previously proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative. Together, they offer solutions to global challenges, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
The initiatives have drawn wide support. More than 150 countries have joined the Belt and Road cooperation framework, over 100 countries and international organizations have participated in the GDI, and the GSI has received backing from more than 130 countries and been incorporated into more than 140 bilateral and multilateral documents.
For China, the message of September 3 extends beyond remembrance at home. It is also a call to the world: to value peace and to work together for a better future.
