Roundup: Asia-Pacific politicians, scholars hail China's V-Day parade

Political leaders, scholars and observers in the Asia-Pacific region have lauded China's V-day parade and President Xi's speech as showing the country's commitment to peaceful development and common prosperity for all countries.

The parade, which was held Thursday, is virtually to tell the world clearly that China cherishes peace and its military power serves as an effective guarantee of it, they said.

In a speech at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, President Xi said China would remain committed to peaceful development and announced to cut 300,000 troops from the country's military.

Bangladeshi Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu, among other officials, said China has not only defeated the Japanese invaders but also immensely contributed to the fight against fascist forces in World War II.

"Supreme sacrifices of the Chinese people contributed immensely to restore peace not merely in China but across the world," said the minister.

"China's military demonstration shows its commitment to the world peace," said Bangladesh's National Standing Committee Member of the BNP, Mahbubur Rahman, also the former Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army, told Xinhua.

"China believes in world solidarity, world unity and world justice," he added.

Communist Party of Bangladesh Secretary General Dilip Barua said the commemoration event bears historical significance and long future impact.

"The commemoration ceremonies will surely contribute to global peace and stability in the days ahead," said Barua, who is also a former Bangladeshi industries minister.

Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies told Xinhua that the commemoration was very important to avoid the repeat of such tragic war in the future.

"Without learning from past mistakes, future wars cannot be prevented. Through economic development and interdependence, peace and security will prevail," said Vannarith, who is also a lecturer of Asia Pacific Studies at the University of Leeds in Britain.

Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Cambodian Council of Ministers, said Xi's pledge to reduce 300,000 troops reflected China's willingness to peaceful development.

He said China's military parade was to "honor Chinese soldiers and innocent people who had fought for the cause of national independence and world peace."

A Fijian cabinet minister on Thursday also lauded China's V-Day parade, recognizing China as a peace-loving country whose defense strategy meets its obligations as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in maintaining and preserving world peace.

Jioji Konrote, Fiji's minister for employment, productivity and industrial relations made these comments at a reception hosted by the Chinese embassy in Fiji.

"Today, as a peace-loving country, the People's Republic of China has placed national security firmly in the hands of its own citizens, and has adopted a realistic and pragmatic defense strategy to protect its national integrity and security and at the same time meet its obligations as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in maintaining and preserving world peace, " the Fijian cabinet minister said.

The Pacific island country sent a team to participate in the historic parade.

"We are honored and proud to be part of this celebration," Konrote said, adding that the occasion "reminds us of our past, but more importantly demonstrates our collective aspiration as a global community to preserve and maintain world peace."

Indian strategic analyst and former Navy Commodore C. Uday Bhaskar said Xi's speech on Thursday during the spectacular parade in Beijing has sent an unambiguous message that China will not forget the brutalities by Japanese militarists during their aggression against China in the first half of last century.

Describing the parade as spectacular and unforgettable,, Bhaskar said Xi's speech and the parade are a vehicle for China to demonstrate its military might and channel Chinese resolve to defend peace.

Ramesh Chopra, a strategic analyst and former Indian Army Lieutenant general, said Xi's announcement to reduce Chinese armed forces personnel by 300,000 is a major driving action for the modernization of the Chinese military, which is also good for peace and stability of the region and the world.

Terming the celebration as a glorious moment to commemorate China's contribution in defeating the invaders in World War II, the officials of neighboring Nepal have congratulated Chinese government and people for the landmark victory.

"This V-day recalls the liberation of Chinese people from aggression, cruelty and inhuman behavior. It refers to a pride history and provides a message of peace," former chief secretary of Nepal government Leela Mani Paudel told Xinhua.

Nepalese officials appreciated that China has always respected the national independence of neighboring countries including Nepal.

Paudel said, "China has been encouraging developing and under- developed countries to move ahead in the path of development and prosperity, which is totally praise-worthy."

"V-day commemoration is a very special occasion to show the achievement of China, after being freed from colonial legacy and reaching a significant economic height. They have every reason to be proud after achieving the miraculous development," Rajeshwar Acharya, Former Ambassador of Nepal to China said. Endi