Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 6th　title: Let the torch of peace be passed down from generation to generation

  Xinhua News Agency reporter

  There is a kind of glory that penetrates the dust and smoke of history and shines forever; there is a kind of memory that is like the fire of civilization that will never be extinguished.

  80 years ago, when the smoke of the world's anti-fascist war disappeared and justice finally defeated evil. After paying the tragic price of tens of millions of lives, human beings finally embarked on a new journey of building a post-war international order and pursuing lasting peace.

  80 years of change. Today, we are standing at the height of material civilization that was unimaginable to our predecessors, and the rapid development of science and technology connects the ends of the world, and the wave of globalization allows the "global villages" to be interconnected. At the same time, the century-long changes have accelerated and the world is becoming increasingly turbulent. When we look back at yesterday's catastrophe and think about the meaning of victory, we must be wary of the echoes of reality: the ghost of power politics has not gone far away, the haze of unilateralism covers the sky, and the cold current of division and confrontation hits the world... The changes in the world, the changes in the times, and the changes in history test mankind's wisdom and choices again.

  On the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, revisiting those years filled with smoke is to commemorate the heroic sacrifices of the martyrs, remember the hard-won peace, and to draw strength and wisdom from history. How should we protect the fruits of victory that we exchanged for with our blood 80 years ago? How to deal with the endless global challenges? How can we build consensus, strengthen the power of justice, let yesterday's tragedy never repeat itself, and jointly create a bright future with a shared future for mankind? This is a major proposition given to us by the times.

  President Xi Jinping pointed out that only by learning from history can we avoid repeating the same mistakes. We must be respectful and have conscience towards history. History cannot be changed, but the future can be shaped. Remembering history is not to persist in hatred, but to learn it together. Inheriting history is not to worry about the past, but to create a future and let the torch of peace be passed down from generation to generation.

  The days of victory: blood is forged, never worn

  "At 24 o'clock, we walked into the hall and it started on May 9, 1945." Soviet Marshal Zhukov narrated this in his autobiography "Memories and Thoughts". More than 20 minutes later, German general Keitel signed the surrender letter. On the eastern battlefield, the last large-scale battle of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression - the Battle of Xiangxi is underway. The Chinese army won the battle and accelerated the process of Japan's surrender.

  More than three months later, on the battleship "Missouri" in Tokyo Bay, a Japanese representative signed the surrender letter. The World War II, which was the largest and most tragic in human history, ended with the complete failure of fascism and militarism. At that moment, history crossed the low point and struggled toward a hopeful future.

  This is a day of victory, and it is also a historical coordinate forged with blood and life.

  More than 80 countries and regions, about 2 billion people were involved in the war, with more than 100 million casualties in the army and people, and property losses of more than 4 trillion US dollars. Faced with the barbaric invasion of fascism and militarism, the people of more than 50 countries including China and the Soviet Union united together to form a broad international anti-fascist and anti-militarist united front, and ultimately inserted the banner of justice throughout the world.

  This is a great victory for justice to overcome evil, light to overcome darkness, and progress to overcome reaction, and it belongs to the common glory of peace-loving people all over the world.

  The world will never forget that the Chinese people support the main battlefield of the East of the world's anti-fascist war with their heroic spirit and great national sacrifices. Since the September 18th Incident in 1931, Japanese fascism ignited the war, China has fired the first shot in the world's anti-fascist war. From the "Flesh and Flesh Mill" in the Battle of Shanghai, to the proudness of the Taierzhuang Battle, to the arduous and arduous battlefield behind enemy lines, fourteen years of bloody battles, China's battlefield restrained and fought more than two-thirds of the total troops of the Japanese Army, and the number of enemies annihilated accounts for 70% of the total casualties of the Japanese army during World War II, and strategically strongly supported the anti-fascist war in other parts of the world.

  The Chinese people will always remember the selfless aid from all over the world: the American "Flying Tigers" ventured to open up the "hump route", Canadian doctor Bethune and Indian doctor Ke Dihua traveled thousands of miles to save lives and help the wounded, German businessman Rabe tried his best to protect refugees in the Nanjing Massacre... International friends of different skin colors and ethnic groups fought side by side on China's land, jointly writing a magnificent epic of the anti-fascist war.

  This is to fight for the survival of the country and the rejuvenation of the nation, and also to fight for the common just cause of mankind. As Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out, the rise of the Chinese nation has enabled China to "closely connect with the world", "our enemy is a world-wide enemy, and China's war of resistance is a world-wide war of resistance."

  What is also indelible is the great achievements of the Soviet people on the main battlefield in Europe. From the unyielding land in the Battle of Moscow, to the shocking reversal of the Battle of Stalingrad, to the torrential steel torrent in the Battle of Kursk, the Soviet military and civilians resisted and eventually destroyed the main force of the German army with their steel will and great sacrifices, making decisive contributions to the turning point in the battle on the main battlefield of Europe and the final victory.

  As the two main battlefields of Asia and Europe, China and the Soviet Union support each other in the battle against fascism and militarism. The Soviet Air Force Volunteer Team once soared in the sky of China, fighting side by side with the Chinese military and civilians, and more than 200 warriors sprinkled blood on the battlefield; the passionate children of the Chinese nation also devoted themselves to the torrent of the Soviet Patriotic War. Comrade Mao Zedong's eldest son Mao Anying, as the instructor of the tank company of the First Front Army of Belarus, fought thousands of miles until he conquered Berlin... This deep friendship condensed with blood and life has been preserved as the common historical memory of the two countries.

  The victory of the World Anti-Fascist War completely shattered the ambition of fascism and militarism to dominate the world through war, completely ended the history of the great powers' struggle for colonial and sweet-splitting the world, completely shaken the colonial system that has existed in the world for hundreds of years, and more importantly, it gave birth to the vision of building a new international order, laying the foundation for mankind to move towards lasting peace.

  The new life of the world: reconstructing order and maintaining peace

  The smoke of war has not yet dissipated, and those who have learned from their mistakes have begun to draw up the future. "To avoid the tragic wars of future generations that have been experienced twice in this generation" - the important declaration in the preface to the Charter of the United Nations is a profound reflection on the painful lessons of the two world wars, showing mankind's deep desire for lasting peace.

  The United Nations, born on the embers of World War II, is a great attempt by mankind to get rid of the jungle law of "power is justice" and the hierarchical order centered on the West. From the Westphalia system, the Vienna system to the Versailles-Washington system, the old order divided the world into powerful countries and colonized and oppressed countries. The principle of "sovereign equality" solemnly established by the Charter of the United Nations for the first time confirmed from the height of international law that countries are equal regardless of size, strength, weakness, or wealth, thus laying the cornerstone of the post-war international order.

  With the UN Charter as the cornerstone, important principles such as sovereignty equality, non-interference in internal affairs of all countries, peaceful settlement of disputes, prohibition of the use of force or threatening of force are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The establishment of the United Nations and its specialized agencies has provided a platform for international cooperation and laid the framework for global governance. Guided by the spirit of the UN Charter, the national liberation movement was surging, and a large number of Asian, African and Latin America countries broke free from the shackles of coloniality and won national independence and national sovereignty. International law has begun to provide protection for the vast number of developing countries to safeguard their rights and interests. A more open and inclusive international community has replaced the so-called "civilized countries" club of the West, and mankind has taken a solid and far-reaching step towards lasting peace.

  "The sun and stars line the sky, and the earth surging majestic singing. Human beings sing together the lofty hope and praise the birth of a new world. United nations unite and move forward, and the flag of righteousness flies. Join hand in hand for victory, freedom and new world..." The "United Nations Anthem", written by American poet Rome and composed by Soviet composer Shostakovic, has become a hymn that inspires people to create a new world.

  At around 10 a.m. on June 26, 1945, at the San Francisco Veterans Memorial Hall, eight Chinese representatives solemnly wrote down their names in the UN Charter. China became the first country to sign the UN Charter at that time.

  As the main battlefield and one of the main victorious countries of the World Anti-Fascist War in the East, China actively participated in the creation of the United Nations and the construction of the post-war international order. At the San Francisco Constitutional Conference, the Chinese delegation spoke out for justice in safeguarding the interests of small and medium-sized countries, firmly advocated the goal of "independence" as the goal of the trusteeship system into the charter, withstood the pressure from Western countries and demonstrated its determination to defend international fairness and justice.

  The post-war international order consolidated the victorious achievements of the world anti-fascist war, established the basic norms of contemporary international relations, greatly restricted the expansion of force, promoted peace and development on a global scale, and its historical progressive significance went down to history. Over the past 80 years, the United Nations has experienced international changes and has become the most universal, representative and authoritative intergovernmental international organization in the world today, carrying the yearning for a better future for all mankind.

  The Echo of the Times: Defend justice and build the future together

  Over the past 80 years, the world has maintained overall peace and no new world war broke out; emerging market countries and developing countries represented by China have risen in a group, promoting the accelerated reconstruction of the international force pattern; the wave of economic globalization has been surging, and cross-border exchanges and cooperation have become increasingly frequent, and the world has become a veritable "global village"; a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation has developed in depth, reshaping human economic model, social structure and interaction modes between countries... The peace dividend has nurtured unprecedented prosperity.

  At the same time, unilateralism and protectionism are surging against the current, and "building walls and building bases" and "decoupling and breaking chains" are rampant; some countries try to draw lines with ideology, piece together exclusive small circles, and provoke the "new Cold War" and camp confrontation; some countries ignore international rules, engage in economic and trade bullying, wield "tariff sticks", and put domestic law above international law... These hegemonic and hegemonic acts have seriously impacted the international system with the United Nations as the core, openly challenged the international order based on international law, and eroded the foundation of world peace and development.

  Ian Golding, former vice president of the World Bank and professor at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, lamented: "We have entered the Asian stage of globalization, and the Atlantic is regressing." Pakistan's Forum Express published an article saying: "As the creators of the free economic order since World War II, some countries now seem to be determined to destroy this order." The destruction of free trade and their arrogance of international affairs made former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davuteoglu bluntly stated that "power is justice" has emerged, and some countries have moved out of the "19th century worldview" in the 21st century.

  On one side, there is the cheers of "the future has come", and on the other side, there is the lament of "history is turning around". Faced with the historical contest between cooperation and confrontation, progress and reaction, UN Secretary-General Guterres couldn't help but sigh: "Peace is being attacked from all sides."

  The world has once again come to a crossroads of where to go: Should we firmly advocate multilateralism, or allow unilateralism to spread wantonly? Should we promote the democratization of international relations, or let power politics do whatever we want? Should we abide by international law and basic norms of international relations, or return to the jungle law of the strong to survive the strong?

  "History is the best textbook and the best sobering agent." The blood of World War II tempered profound realistic revelations:

  ——Peace is the bottom line of civilization that needs to be protected from generation to generation. The devastation of creatures under the Nazi iron hooves and the tremor of civilization in the Nanjing Massacre all warn mankind: war is the blasting machine of civilization, and peace is the general valve of development.

  ——Unity is an important support for the survival of human civilization. When fascism and militarism try to tear the world apart, the 26 countries jointly issued the "United Nations Declaration" to seek common ground while reserving differences foresight: the barriers of ideology can be broken, and the bond of common values ​​of all mankind is always there.

  ——The historical trend is irreversible and cannot be violated. The collapse of the colonial system, the end of the Cold War pattern, and the rise of emerging forces indicate that the logic of power will eventually be swallowed up by the wave of multipolar symbiosis, and the wheel of historical justice will eventually crush all those who are in the way.

  ——Rules are not toys that are manipulated by strong people, but should be shields to uphold fairness and justice. The principle of sovereign equality stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations and the anti-aggression legal principles established in post-war trials all reiterate that if the international order becomes a arena of "power is justice", mankind will fall into traps one after another.

  "The law of the weak and the law of the jungle are not the way for mankind to coexist. Martialization and dominance of power are not the strategy of peace for mankind. Winners take all and zero-sum games are not the path to human development. Peace rather than war, cooperation rather than confrontation, and win-win rather than zero-sum are the eternal themes of peace, progress and development of human society." President Xi Jinping's words expressed the common voice of people of all countries in the world to yearn for peace, love peace and defend peace.

  As the winner of World War II, the founder and defender of the post-war order, China has always stood on the right side of history and on the progress of human civilization. From promoting high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", to proposing and implementing the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative; from advocating the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, to contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to solving regional hot issues and global challenges... China practices true multilateralism with practical actions, and is committed to promoting the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction, injecting strong stability and positive energy into world peace and development.

  More and more countries realize that China is the backbone of maintaining world peace and stability. UN Deputy Secretary-General Tom Fletcher believes that China's concepts such as jointly building the "Belt and Road" initiative and building a community with a shared future for mankind advocate global solidarity and emphasize that the world needs cooperation rather than confrontation. These initiatives and concepts are extremely important. The website of the American magazine Foreign Policy published an article pointing out that in the eyes of the world, China has now become a positive force in the international order committed to maintaining stability.

  One arrow is easy to break, but ten arrows are difficult to break. As ally fighting side by side in World War II, China and Russia continue to work together to maintain global strategic stability today, work closely together within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS countries to jointly oppose hegemony and power politics, and promote world multipolarization and economic globalization with true multilateralism. Emerging markets and developing countries have risen in a group, the awakened "Global South" has grown in momentum, its voice and influence in global governance have been continuously enhanced, and its progressive power to maintain world peace and development has been unprecedentedly strong.

  French writer Victor Hugo once said: "Planning an anniversary event is like lighting a torch." Every minute the light advances, darkness retreats. The significance of commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War lies in illuminating the future and declaring mankind's firm belief in defending lasting peace.

  In April 1945, when learning that the Allied forces had invaded Germany, prisoners of war and anti-warriors in the Buhenwald concentration camp took out their hidden weapons and launched an uprising. After controlling the concentration camp, they posted slogans on the big iron gate: "Never repeat."

  "I want to avoid the war in future generations" is still in my ears. Standing at a new crossroads, what mankind needs is not the noise of the new Cold War, but the whistle of the cooperative ship; it is not the arrogance of civilization and superiority, but the style of sharing beauty; it is not the sediment of the law of the jungle, but the mutual achievements of shared destiny. Only in this way can the tragedy of history never repeat itself and make the vision of lasting peace and sustainable development a reality.

[Editor in charge: Wu Jingze]