Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

60 years ago, on the 3^rd September 1945, Japan formally submitted its capitulation to the Allies. On this occasion, we host this photo exhibition today to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of victory in the China's resistance war against Japanese aggression so that we can take the history as a mirror, safeguard the world peace better, and promote the common development.

The WWII is the war of the largest scale with the heaviest casualty and the most severe damage in the history of mankind. It is also the fight between justice and evil as well as the duel of brightness against darkness. The war flames spread to all the continents and the human destiny was once under the umbra of the fascism. Through hard fighting in bloody battles, peace-loving people and progressive forces around the world defeated the fascists and militarists and won the victory of the war, opening the new era of mankind history.

During the war, which determined the future and destiny of mankind, the Chinese people made tremendous sacrifices and contributions along with the people of Asian countries. From the 9·18 Incident triggered by the Japanese militarists in 1931 to their unconditional surrender in 1945, the resistance of the Chinese people against Japanese aggression lasted for 14 years and became the important components of war against fascism in the world. China was the main battlefield in the East.

In the 14 years, the Communist Party of China (CPC) initiated and realized the Second Cooperation between CPC and Kuomintang, establishing China's most comprehensive United Front against Japanese aggression including different democratic parties, various stratums and compatriots in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese, and raising the vigorous national resistance against Japanese aggression.

In the 14 years, over a half of China's territory was engulfed in the war flames, with over 100 million people homeless and over 35 million people died or wounded. The Chinese people resisted and pin down 70% of the Japanese military forces with tremendous national sacrifice. Even in the most intense period of the Pacific battle, China trapped two third of the Japanese army and gave the allied troops sufficient strategic time and space, contributing to the final victory.

The victory of the WWII was an important turning point in the history of mankind.

To the world, it completely destroyed the fascist forces who vainly attempted to enslave the world. It also greatly promoted the cause of peace and development of mankind.

To Asia, it ended Japan's aggression and expansion since the Meiji Reforms, buried the war cradle in Asia and launched the new era of Asia's postwar development.

To Japan, it made Japan return to the international community through cleaning up the militarism, accepting the trial of Far East Military Court and signing the San Francisco Treaty. Meanwhile, Japan learned the lesson from the war and moved onto a peaceful developing way.

To the China-Japan relations, the Japanese Government seriously expressed deep and profound reflections in the China-Japan Joint Statement (1972) on the crimes committed to the Chinese people in the war. China abandoned the demand of war compensation from Japan in favour of the friendship of the two peoples. Since then, China and Japan ended the abnormal status of bilateral relations, which lasted for half a century and achieved the normalization of diplomatic relations.

The historical facts proved that fully understanding the historic significance of the victory of the war against fascism and correctly regarding the war history is the foundation of the postwar international order, the peaceful development of Japan as well as the sound and stable development of the China-Japan relations.

It must be pointed out that there are always right wing forces in Japan who denied and whitewashed Japan's aggression history. In recent years, those forces disregarded the basic historical facts and the international common understanding, and preached the ideas like "aggression is contributive", "war trial is invalid" and "war criminals are innocent". Meanwhile, the historical problem represented by the Yasukuni Shrine issue came under the spotlight again, raising great concern of the Asian and international community, hindering the improvement of the relations between Japan and its neighbour countries, causing the worries upon Japan's future.

Dear friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today we get together to commemorate the great victory of the Chinese people in the war against Japanese aggression so as to cherish the memory of the national heroes who sacrificed themselves for China's salvation. From 1931 to 1945, countless Chinese people died for the national independence, freedom, democracy and prosperity. We must memorize martyr's blood and strive for the bright future.

Today we get together to commemorate the great victory of the Chinese people in the war against Japanese aggression so as to review the history, safeguard the peace and look into the future. We must carry forward the national spirit, grasp the historic opportunity, focus on the development and work energetically for the prosperity of our nation.

Today we get together to commemorate the great victory of the Chinese people in the war against Japanese aggression so as to unswervingly hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, confirmedly move along the peaceful developing line and jointly promote the sacred cause of peace and development of mankind along with the people around the world including the Japanese people.