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Russian troops to march in Chinese parade to celebrate WWII victory
July 25, 2015, 5:23 am

Russian soldiers march at the Victory Day Parade on May 9th 2015 in Moscow, Russia [PPIO]

Russian soldiers march at the Victory Day Parade on May 9th 2015 in Moscow, Russia [PPIO]

Russian troops will march in a parade in Beijing on 3rd September to commemorate the end of the second world war, the defence ministry said in Moscow, a move likely to bolster Sino-Russian ties.

“Participation of a Chinese unit in the Victory parade on May 9, 2015 was a sign of gratitude to the victors’ valour and heroism,” the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

“A Russian ceremonial squad is due to participate in the Victory Parade on Tiananmen Square on September 3,” it added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a parade in Moscow in May to mark 70 years since the end of the war in Europe.

Western leaders boycotted the Moscow parade over Russia’s role in the Ukraine crisis.

Beijing will also invite representatives from the western allies who fought with China during the war, inspite of differences over their attitude to Japan’s failure to atone for its wartime aggression.

Cheng Yonghua, Chinese envoy to Japan, on Thursday urged Tokyo not to lighten responsibility for its World War II aggression.

China and Russia are also preparing for the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, or what is known as the victory of China’ s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti- Fascist War.

September 3 has been declared a public holiday in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.

A South China Morning Post report has said Beijing is aiming for “Apec blue” skies over the capital for second world war commemorations in September, with plans to revive tough air pollution restrictions introduced for the international summit last year.

The Ufa declaration of the 7th BRICS Summit earlier this month also makes references to the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, “fascism” & “militarism” during World War II and denounces attempts to rewrite history but stops short of mentioning Japan.

“We express our commitment to resolutely reject the continued attempts to misrepresent the results of World War II. While remembering the scourge of war, we highlight that it is our common duty to build a future of peace and development,” said the joint BRICS communiqué.

 

TBP