Chinese, Russian envoys to US note WWII teamwork

Both ambassadors congratulate wartime allies, 'Greatest Generation' of United States

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Allies' victory in World War II, the Chinese and Russian ambassadors to the United States joined hands in penning an article in which they celebrated the friendship between the two countries and urged the international community to uphold the principles of unity and coordination in the spirit of the end of the war.

In the joint article Honor the History for a Better Future, published on Wednesday by Washington-based Defense One, China's ambassador to the US, Cui Tiankai, and his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Antonov, commemorated the 75th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"On the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Allies in World War II, we are remembering the historic contribution of the earlier generations of our two countries. In the meanwhile, we want to congratulate our ally at the time, the representatives of the American 'Greatest Generation', and thank them for their self-sacrifice," the diplomats wrote.

Wednesday marked the 75th anniversary of Sept 2, 1945, when armed forces of the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies aboard the battleship USS Missouri. China celebrates the end of the war on Sept 3, the date the Japanese army in China surrendered to the Chinese government.

World War II was an unprecedented calamity in human history. The Soviet Union, China, the US and other peace-loving countries supported each other and fought side by side in the war, Cui and Antonov wrote.

"In the end, justice prevailed over evil, light over darkness and the progressive over the reactionary. As the main theaters in Europe and Asia, the Soviet Union and China suffered more than 27 million deaths and 35 million casualties … making indelible contributions to the victory of the War and the future of mankind," they added.

The diplomats said the friendship that developed between the Russian and Chinese people in World War II represents an inexhaustible driving force for lasting Russia-China relations.

It has become a tradition for the two countries to jointly commemorate the war, with leaders attending the celebrations held by the other country many times, they wrote.

President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on May 8 that as major victors in World War II and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Russia and China have the special mission of safeguarding world peace and security and promoting human progress, and they will firmly preserve the victory of the war and uphold international fairness and justice, they said.

The leaders also called on the international community to carry forward the spirit fostered in the war against fascism and join hands to win the war against COVID-19, the diplomats added.

Maintain peace

The ambassadors warned against distorting history. They also urged the international community to safeguard the basis of the UN Charter, which mandates that the UN and its member states maintain international peace and security.

"The law of the jungle leaves the weak at the mercy of the strong; it is not the way for countries to conduct their relations. Those who adopt the highhanded approach of using force will find that they are only lifting a rock to drop on their own feet. We should give up the thinking of zero-sum game, strive for win-win cooperation and realize the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind," the diplomats said.

"This is the only right choice if we are to turn into reality the ideal 'to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which … has brought untold sorrow to mankind', as enshrined in the UN Charter," they added.

Taking note of recent global challenges, the ambassadors said the basic norms of international relations, such as the inviolability of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and noninterference in their internal affairs, should be respected. Multilateralism should be put into practice.

The spirit of the war against fascism, characterized by concerted efforts, unity and mutual assistance, is especially relevant in today's context and should be carried forward, as the world faces global threats such as climate change, terrorism, economic recession and pandemics, they said.

"The winning nations of World War II, especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council, based on their shared memory of fighting side by side, should ponder on their special responsibilities, strengthen mutual trust and cooperation, and follow the principles of mutual respect, equality, peaceful development and common prosperity," the diplomats added.