A grand gathering begins in Beijing Saturday morning to mark the 60th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the war against Japanese aggression and the victory of the world war against fascists. (Xinhua photo)

The photo shows the scene of the memorial ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on September 3, 2005. (Xinhua photo)

Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered a speech at a grand gathering held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on September 3, 2005. (Xinhua photo)

Full-text: Chinese president's speech on war victory commemoration

    BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet, by Xinhua Writer Zhou Yan) -- China marked the 60th anniversary of the victory of the war against Japanese aggressors and the world anti-fascist war on Saturday, with a red carpet and gun salute to war veterans, a national commemoration of its war dead, and calls for national unity and peaceful development.

    "By solemnly commemorating that victory, we will keep history firmly in mind, never forget the past, cherish peace and create a better future," Chinese President Hu Jintao said at a grand gathering that commemorated the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War.

    He said the nation's emphasis on the need to always remember the past does "not mean to continue the hatred." On the contrary, "we are committed to promoting the Sino-Japanese friendship and cooperation in the 21st century."

    But he also reminded the the Japanese Government of its commitment regarding historical issues and urged the Japanese Government and its leaders to take a highly responsible attitude toward history in order to "avoid the repetition of historical tragedies."

    "The great victory won 60 years ago determined the future of the world and has been and will forever be engraved in the minds of all people who love peace and justice," he told a large audience including gray-haired war veterans at the 10,000-seat Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

    More than 6,000 people, including Hu and other top Chinese leaders, government officials and military officers as well as Chinese and foreign war veterans, stood in silence at the Tian'anmen Square as a battery of artillery guns fired 60 times insalute.

    Present at the commemoration were also family members of two late Kuomintang generals, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng who arrested Chiang Kai-shek in 1936 and forced him to end the civil war in order to organize coordinated resistance with the Communistforces against Japanese invading troops.

    After the 60-gun salute, about 6,000 doves symbolizing peace were freed and flower wreaths were laid before a monument commemorating the war dead.

    China reported 35 million casualties in the war between 1931 and 1945, including soldiers and civilians.

    "We cherish the profound memory of those martyrs who laid down their lives for national independence and liberation," Premier Wen Jiabao said at a reception in the evening.

    "By commemorating the great victory...we mean to draw lessons from history, be forward-looking, commit ourselves to the road of peaceful development, and advance the cause of world peace in the new century."

    Several hundred war veterans from China and abroad were invitedto the reception, held at the Great Hall of the People.

    Saturday's commemorations also included a ceremony to present medals of honor on 10 representatives of war veterans and patriotic personages.

    The medal, made of pure silver, features swords, the figure 60,stars, the pagoda in Yan'an, doves and olive branches, symbolizing armed struggle, the 60th anniversary of the victory, unity among the people, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the joint efforts of the army and people to win the war.

    China has conferred at least 700,000 of the medals to veterans,patriots and international friends who helped China's war effort, a latest move to refresh its war memory and remind the people of the importance of peace and development.

    The Chinese people's longing for peace and development has been conveyed in a wave of recent commemorations. Speeches of top Party and state leaders, war symposiums and media reports all enshrine the same theme: "keep history firmly in mind, never forget the past, cherish peace and create a better future." Enditem

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