BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Title: Marching Forward Toward a New Great Victory! -- A Side Story of the 80th Anniversary Conference Commemorating the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War
Reporter of Xinhua News Agency
September 3, 2025, the hands of time mark a new historical scale—
The grand celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world's anti-fascist war was held. This is a solemn ceremony for all peace-loving countries and peoples in the world.
Representatives from all walks of life and the public gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing for a grand assembly, where the Party and the state held a grand military parade to commemorate history, honor the martyrs, cherish peace, and create the future.
1931-1945, the Chinese people fought with blood and sweat, and achieved the first complete victory in resisting foreign aggression since modern times.
1945-2025, the great spirit of the anti-Japanese war has inspired the Chinese people to overcome all difficulties and dangers, the Chinese nation has achieved a great leap from standing up, becoming rich to becoming strong, and the Chinese-style modernization has shown an extremely bright and brilliant prospect.
Historical memories never fade, and the tide of the times surges forward.
General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared: "The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable! The noble cause of human peace and development will surely succeed!"
(1)
Early autumn in Beijing, the sky is high and the earth is vast.
In the newly renovated Hall of Tiananmen, a large painting titled "Solidarity Can Achieve Anything" is hung: amidst the dyed woods and the red mountains, the Great Wall winds and winds like a giant dragon.
Outside the hall, 80 red flags fluttered in the wind on both sides of Tiananmen Square. In front of the majestic Monument to the People's Heroes, 14 watchtowers held up the years "1945" and "2025". The three main colors of the viewing platform in the square are the red of the city wall, the olive green of olive, and the rich gold of abundance, shaped like three huge "person" characters, forming the character "people".
At 8:35 a.m., Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, ascended the Tiananmen Rostrum and shook hands with the veteran anti-Japanese warriors Shen Bingsheng, Zhang Ping, Liu Shiye, Fu Ying, Luo Jinghui, and Song Qixiang, extending his highest respect to them.
This memorial meeting invited old soldiers, old comrades, old civil guards, representatives of local support models and representatives of the relatives of the war martyrs who participated in the anti-Japanese war to attend the ceremony on the spot.
On the reviewing stand, Qi Ying, a 97-year-old veteran of the anti-Japanese war, whose medals shone brightly on his chest, said: "I joined the Eighth Route Army when I was 12 years old, and I witnessed the founding of New China at the founding ceremony in 1949. Today, I once again feel the strength of our motherland. The fallen comrades, their blood did not flow in vain."
"My home is on the upper reaches of the Songhua River in Northeast China, where my compatriots are" "Where the enemy attacks, we must destroy him there" "Defend the hometown, defend the Yellow River, defend North China, defend all of China" "Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China" ...
The joint military band of more than a thousand players played familiar melodies, and the powerful voices of the choirs sang like a magnificent epic, telling the story of those passionate and heroic years of the beacon fire. The crowd at the memorial meeting couldn't help but sing along, inspiring the emotional resonance of the Chinese people at home and abroad.
As it has surged through the torrent of revolution and construction, and as it has been caught up in the tempests of reform and development, the CPC has led the Chinese people to ride the wind and split the waves, making the Chinese path broader and the Chinese strength irresistible.
"The magnificent War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression has nurtured the great spirit of the war. This is a precious spiritual wealth of the Chinese people, which will always inspire us to overcome difficulties and move forward." said Wu Weirun, the chief designer of China's lunar exploration project and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
At this moment, on Dongchang'an Street, iron armor shines and heavy equipment is lined up. The people's army, with its strict military appearance, magnificent momentum and high spirit, is waiting for the inspection of the Party and the people.
From the south of the Yangtze River to the Great Wall, from the white mountains and black waters to the coast of the South China Sea, from the water towns of the south of the Yangtze River to the Gobi Desert, live broadcast signals spread all over the land of China.
At 8:55 a.m., General Secretary Xi Jinping, other members of the Party and state leadership, and international guests invited to attend the ceremony all arrived at the rostrum on the Tiananmen City Gate, and the entire venue burst into warm applause.
(II)
At 9 o'clock sharp, the meeting to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world's anti-fascist war began.
The 80-gun salute resounded into the clouds, and the Guard of Honor, with steady and powerful steps, marched from the Monument to the flag-raising area.
80 years, from great victory to great rejuvenation. This is the road to national independence and people's liberation, the road to national prosperity and people's happiness, the road to peaceful development and a shared future.
"Rise! Unwilling to be slaves! With our flesh and blood, we build our new Great Wall..."
The whole place sang the "March of the Volunteers" in unison, and the five-star red flag slowly rose.
At 9:08, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech from the Tiananmen City Tower.
On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission, I would like to pay tribute to all the old soldiers, comrades, patriotic people, and anti-Japanese generals who participated in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression throughout the country, and to all the Chinese people at home and abroad who made significant contributions to the victory of the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression!
This is the Party and the state's remembrance of history and tribute to heroes.
From the shocking defeat of the Japanese invaders at Pingxingguan to the inspiring Hundred Regiments Campaign; from the "meat grinder" of the Battle of Songhu to the sense of relief at the Battle of Taierzhuang, the land of China has been adorned with heroes, supporting the unyielding struggle of a nation.
On the reviewing stand, General Tong Liao's grandson, Tong Xiaodong, listened attentively, his mind racing: "Those names engraved on the pillars of history are the eternal lighthouses of the Chinese nation."
A history of the Chinese people's united resistance against foreign aggression, a history of blood shed and mountains and rivers, is also a history of great practice of the great practice of the Chinese people's united resistance against foreign aggression, a history of blood shed and mountains and rivers.
At the historical juncture of national peril, the CPC, with the overall interests of the nation in mind, and with its broad vision and sense of mission, has maintained the overall situation of unity and anti-Japanese war, and lit the hope of national salvation.
As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, under the banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front advocated by the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people fought the strong enemy with their iron-like backbone and built the Great Wall with their flesh and blood.
Thousands of miles away, Liu Ni, director of the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall, who watched the live broadcast on television, could not calm down: "History is the best textbook. The Communist Party of China has a courageous responsibility, leading and calling on the Chinese people to write a magnificent epic of victory over the strong with the weak, and will surely win greater glory on the new journey."
Why this victory 80 years ago was great?
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The Chinese people have made great contributions to the world at the expense of a huge national sacrifice, to save human civilization and to defend world peace."
Fight for the survival of the nation, fight for the rejuvenation of the nation, and also fight for human justice.
It started the earliest, lasted the longest, and paid the highest price in the world anti-fascist war. The Chinese battlefield long contained and fought against the main military forces of Japanese militarism, supporting the Eastern main battlefield of the world anti-fascist war.
Commemoration is not only for the sake of respecting the dead and tracing our roots, but also to make peace and justice a permanent feature of our lives.
Only when countries and nations treat each other equally, live in harmony, and help each other can they maintain common security, eliminate the roots of war, and prevent historical tragedies from repeating themselves!
General Secretary Xi Jinping's words express the common aspiration of people around the world for peace, love for peace, and defense of peace.
It was a moving experience to return to the scene 10 years later, said Thomas Lube, a German friend, adding that the warm welcome was thanks to his grandfather, John Lube, who had provided shelter to many Chinese during the Nanjing Massacre.
"The Chinese leaders have mentioned peace many times, reiterating the beautiful vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, full of the responsibility of major countries and the responsibility of the times," said Thomas Rabe. Only by remembering history and cherishing peace can we create the future, he said.
History illuminates the future, and the journey ahead is endless.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has issued a powerful call to action——
"Unswervingly follow the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, inherit and carry forward the great spirit of the anti-Japanese war, strive for progress with perseverance and courage, and unite and strive to comprehensively promote the construction of a strong nation and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization!"
(III)
"Flag bearers take your positions!"
At 9:15, 60 flag bearers took up their positions in turn in front of the East and West Gate Pillars, and the parade began.
The stirring sound of the horn resounded through the square, and President Xi Jinping arrived in the inspection vehicle on Chang'an Street, paying tribute to the party flag, the national flag, and the military flag with a salute in front of the reviewing force.
The flag is the direction, the flag is the strength. Three flags, after countless washes of blood and fire, inspire the people's army to forge ahead and fight bravely, and to keep moving from victory to victory.
"Salute——" The command from the commander of the formation was given, and the soldiers and officers being reviewed had the gaze of a torch and the spirit of the wind.
"Comrades, hello!" "Chairman, hello!"
Comrades have worked hard! "For the people!"
Warm greetings, filled with trust and care; a loud answer, full of the majestic power of the mountains and rivers.
"Obey the party's command! Be capable of winning! Maintain excellent style!" "Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail!" The soldiers in the reviewing stand shouted in unison as President Xi Jinping returned in his car.
At 9:44, the roar of the aircraft grew louder as it approached, marking the beginning of the parade.
Twenty-six helicopters formed a huge "80" character, and three helicopters flew over the Tiananmen Square with banners hanging.
This is the first parade to comprehensively advance China's modernization into a new journey, and it is a new appearance of the people's army striving to build the army for a hundred years.
The parade featured 45 formation (ladder) teams, with the participants mainly drawn from units that were formerly known as the Eighth Route Army, the New Fourth Army, the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, and the South China Guerrillas.
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, our Party adhered to the principle that the people and the army are the foundation of victory, put forward and implemented the strategic general policy of a protracted war, led the opening up of enemy-occupied areas, turned the enemy's rear into the front line of the war of resistance, effectively contained and annihilated a large number of the enemy, and achieved brilliant results.
Dun Ningxin, a 29-year-old soldier from the Western Theater Command, has stepped onto the parade ground for the third time. The "Jingangzhuang" battle flag he holds high carries a fine tradition. In his heart, soldiers of the new era should be as brave and skillful in battle as their predecessors, continuing the glory.
A strong country must first strengthen its military, and a strong military is necessary for national security.
Today's people's army, with its indomitable fighting spirit and practical actions, guards the country's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and is the iron wall to protect the red mountains and rivers and defend the national dignity.
This is a concentrated display of the new look of the people's army in the new era, the new layout of the force structure, the new progress in modernization, and the new achievements in preparedness and combat readiness.
The hiking formation is coming!
The new military structure of the "four services plus four branches", namely the Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket军 and military space forces, cyber space forces, information support forces, and the Logistics Support Force, was on display for the first time. The military branch flags and the flag of the armed police force were also unveiled for the first time.
With a momentum that was unyielding, 13 contingents, with their neat and resolute steps, marched out the military might and the national prestige.
The reserve force formation is straight and tall, and the reviewed personnel come from all walks of life, representing the glorious mission of the reserve force to return when called and to win in battle.
The 10th row face member Hong Yinda is a teacher at Yangzhi Primary School in Jixi County, Anhui Province, and also a reserve second-class soldier of the Second Base of the Rocket Army. "Put on armor, return to the camp, go to the battlefield, and win the battle" is a solemn commitment that he is always ready to practice.
The militia formation was majestic, and the female militia members接受 review were from the main anti-Japanese bases across the country that year.
Li Yitong, the leader, is from Yixian County, Hebei Province. On this land of heroes, she and the villagers carry forward the spirit of the Five Heroes of狼牙 Mountain and strive to promote the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside.
The equipment formation is coming over!
The land combat group, maritime combat group, air and missile defense group, information combat group, unmanned combat group, rear services support group, and strategic strike group, which are the joint combat groups, were reviewed in turn. The weapons and equipment selected from the current main battle equipment made in China are mostly making their first appearance.
Watching the country's heavy instruments pass by one after another, Yan Min, a CNC lathe operator from Jiangbei Company of the 9th Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry, was emotional: "As a front-line industrial worker, I am very proud to participate in the advanced equipment manufacturing. I will be conscientious and tighten every screw."
The iron stream is magnificent and its momentum shakes the world. The "Dongfeng-5C" liquid-fuel intercontinental strategic nuclear missile is a strategic weapon that forges a shield of peace. When the equipment formation appeared last, the whole venue burst into cheers.
The air formation is coming!
The Y-9 anti-submarine patrol aircraft, electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and radar jamming aircraft formed three wedges to be reviewed; the "Fat Girl" Y-20A and Y-20B were organized to fly in a combat formation; the J-16D, J-20, J-35A and other multi Fighters made a stunning appearance...
Eagles strike the vast sky, mission must be accomplished. Accelerate the domestic equipment, molt and update, enhance the long-range strike, and coordinated strike capabilities, the national airspace will never be violated.
This is a firm declaration by the Chinese people to remember history, cherish peace, and resolutely defend the achievements of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world's anti-fascist war.
The battle flag flutters in the wind, and the bloodline continues.
In the reviewed war flag formation, 80 war flags represent the glorious honor of the anti-Japanese war. "Yang Jingyu Branch", "Pingxingguan Great Battle Assault Company", "Liu Laozhuang Company"... Each war flag is cast by the blood and life of the martyrs of the anti-Japanese war, and is a heroic epic that moves the soul.
The Chinese military, which has gone through the ups and downs of the years, is a majestic and victorious force, as well as a civilized and peaceful one.
The peacekeeping troops formation, striding forward, demonstrates the "Chinese blue helmet" unafraid of difficulties and worthy of the mission, interpreting the responsibility of a great power through actions and making important contributions to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
The training aircraft formation roared by, and seven performance aircraft drew 14 colorful smoke traces in the sky. This is a remembrance of the 14-year-long journey of the anti-Japanese war, symbolizing the 1.4 billion Chinese people striving on a new journey full of glory and dreams under the peaceful sky.
(iv)
80,000 doves of peace take flight, 80,000 balloons rise into the air, flying over the Tiananmen rostrum, over the Monument to the People's Heroes, and into the higher, further blue sky.
"The five-star red flag flutters in the wind, the victory song is so loud..."
The whole place sang "Singing the Motherland" in unison, and the applause and cheers echoed in the square, marking the successful conclusion of the memorial meeting.
People waved the red flag with five stars, paid tribute to their ancestors, eulogized the times, and looked forward to the future.
China's past is already written in the annals of human history; China's present is being created by hundreds of millions of people; and China's future will surely be even better.
——On the road ahead, maintain our composure and confidence, and focus on doing our own thing well.
Learn from the past, and be vigilant for the future. The world today is not peaceful, and threats have never been far away.
"History tells us that backwardness leads to being beaten. Only with strength and the ability to win can we deter war." Dong Xiwang, director of the Institute of Unmanned Systems at Beihang University in Beijing, said that it is necessary to accelerate the research and development of cutting-edge technologies to firmly guard national security with independently developed advanced equipment.
No matter the past, present and future, China's development ultimately relies on itself.
This year, the "14th Five-Year Plan" will be completed, and the upcoming Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will study and make recommendations on the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan for the national economy and social development.
No matter how the external environment changes, we must focus on accelerating development. After the entire ethnic group was lifted out of poverty, life is getting better and better. We must insist on self-reliance and continue to strive, and not fall behind on the road to achieving common prosperity," said Gao De Rong, a representative from Yunnan who watched the event.
——On the road ahead, dare to struggle, be good at creating, and persevere in the struggle to realize the dream of rejuvenation.
After the ceremony, Zhang Jiming, a national model worker, said he was deeply moved: "Having gone through the glorious years, we understand more clearly the historical mission we bear. Hundred of millions of hearts need to be closely united to resonate the strong note of struggle."
The Chinese nation is a great nation that is not afraid of violence and strives for self-reliance. It has undergone the baptism of blood and fire, and can draw more wisdom and strength to move forward.
"The war of resistance is a common national memory of both sides of the strait," said Lu Lishi, a Taiwanese who was invited to attend the ceremony. The anti-Japanese struggle of the people of Taiwan is an important part of the national war of resistance, and we always breathe and share our fate with the motherland. A strong China will make greater contributions to world peace and development.
——On the road ahead, we will carry forward the spirit, build on past achievements, and continue to achieve new great victories.
Singing and cheering, the people on Tiananmen Square are full of passion.
In the crowd, General Zuo Quan's grandson, Sha Feng, held his mobile phone high. The screen, continuously lit, showed the only photo of Zuo Quan with his wife and daughter. "I want to tell Grandpa that this prosperous age is as you wished!"
"Watching the performance is a spiritual baptism," said Feng Yuanzheng, the artistic director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, with a firm tone. "We want to contribute more excellent works that showcase the great spirit of the people and the times."
Covering the grand memorial event, Bangladeshi reporter Tanzeel Rahman of The New Times could hardly hide his excitement: "Only when the people of the world join hands and stand together can peace be sustained forever."
The best memorial to history is to create new history.
Towards the glorious shore of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, forward!
Towards a beautiful vision of world peace and development, forward!
Towards a bright future of building a community with a shared future for mankind, forward! (End)
