Interview: China's WWII victory over fascism a global triumph: Venezuelan academic

China's victory in WWII represents a triumph that transcends borders to benefit the entire world, said Jose Antonio Egido, a political scientist.

A military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII drew more than 30 heads of state and representatives from around the globe, in recognition of China's contributions.

Among the leaders was Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose country has forged strong ties with China over the past 15 years as part of a push to promote a new multilateral world order.

Also present at the celebrations were foreign military envoys from 17 countries, including a nine-member delegation from the Venezuelan armed forces, in a show of support and military cooperation in the pursuit of world peace and the protection of human rights.

Egido, a professor with Venezuelan Pedro Gual Institute of Higher Diplomatic Studies, underscored the lessons the world can draw from China's historic struggle.

China's Communist Party, said Egido, demonstrated its intelligence in defeating the Japanese invaders, and then going on to establish political power, found the People's Republic of China and, in seven decades, transform China into the world's second-largest economy.

China's rise, he said, is key to the construction of a multilateral world, in which Beijing can support the international community in changing the conflict-ridden and war-torn landscape imposed until now by the imperialist powers.

"Humanity expects a lot from China: to displace these hegemonic powers that seek to proliferate wars and instability in their desperate struggle to maintain their companies' capital gains," said Egido.

The spirit that guides China's political, economic, social and cultural course is founded on respect for countries' rights to self determination, as such it is not in Beijing's interest to invade any other nation, noted Egido.

Latin America's general knowledge of the tragic events of World War II and the damage inflicted by Germany, Japan and Italy has been "manipulated" by Western propaganda, according to Egido.

Few people actually know that some 35 million Chinese died or were injured during the war, not to mention the lasting economic, political and social toll on the country, he said.

The historical events also shed light on issues that continue to present obstacles to sound international relations.

China demands Japan acknowledge all the terrible crimes it committed in China during those years, including killing innocent civilians and carrying out tests on prisoners, and that remains a main point of contention between the two countries, said Egido.

The commemorations in Beijing, he added, were significant in providing an opportunity to revisit a difficult chapter in the history of humanity, and one that countries can draw important lessons from, as China's President Xi Jinping said during the ceremony. Endi