Spotlight: International community praises Xi's speech at V-Day Parade

The international community has lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the Sept. 3 V-Day parade on Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing, saying that Xi's speech highlighted China's dedication to maintaining peace and stability.

Many overseas leaders and experts believe that Xi's speech shows China's willingness to continuously assume the responsibility as a world power and to promote peace and prosperity across the world.

CHINA AS A RESPONSIBLE POWER

Indrananda Abeysekera, president of the Association for Sri Lanka- China Social and Cultural Cooperation, said he believes that Xi's speech demonstrates the confidence, strength and resolve of China, as a responsible major country, in promoting global peace.

China holds grand ceremonies to celebrate the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War because it wants to bear in mind history, safeguard peace and urge all nations to stand together and fight against any violence threatening the security of the international community, Abeysekera said.

In addition, it shows that China can follow through its promise to maintaining the path of peaceful development when Xi announced a plan to cut China's armed forces by 300,000 troops in his speech at the V-Day parade, added Abeysekera.

Abayas Abylayuly, a researcher on international relations at the Kazakh Humanities and Law University, said that Chinese president's speech highlighted China's love for peace and stability.

Now China has emerged as an indispensable force for maintaining world peace and its decision to downsize the armed forces gives eloquent proof that it is a responsible world power that keeps its promises, Abylayuly added.

Abdullah Alkowaitleet, editor in chief of Saudi King Alfaisal Cultural Research Center, said China has always been a peace-loving and civilized nation throughout its history and today, and that as the second largest economy in the world, China has once again shown the world its peaceful nature by reducing as many as 300,000 troops.

Alkowaitleet said he hopes that China can continue playing its role as a responsible power in international affairs, and making contributions to peace and prosperity in Asia.

China is a responsible world power as well as an important defender of world peace, said Raul Manchaca, a senior commentator with Cuba's Radio Reloj, adding that Xi's speech is inspiring to all nations, as peace and security is a common mission for all that demands the maximum effort from every nation.

Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow with S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Singapore Nanyang Technological University, said that Xi's announcement to cut Chinese troops proves the Asian giant's sincerity over peace.

RESOLVE TO STICK TO PATH OF PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT

China hopes that its military downsizing can revive the virtuous circle of disarmament in the world and countries can join hands and allocate more of their resources on developing economy, Oh said.

South African President Jacob Zuma said China, as a major power, has consistently used its strength "for defending peace and security globally and not for aggression."

Millions of Chinese lost their lives when defending their country during World War II, he said.

"Despite this devastation, China emerged as among the world's key nations and utilized its political influence and economic power to build friendships with other nations," he added, recalling that China played an important role in supporting liberation movements on the African continent.

The president said China has a historical relationship with Africa, noting that the time has come to give real impetus to the partnership by enhancing industrialization and infrastructure development on the African continent.

Falk Hoehn, president of the University of Applied Sciences Stralsund,Germany, said he was impressed by the message of peace sent by Xi, especially his remarks that "China will never seek hegemony or expansion."

"That is why I think the clear statement made by Xi that China poses no threat is very important," Hoehn said.

Banzragch Munkhtuul, director of the Mongolian newspaper Mongolyn Medee, said the world is still facing many factors that threaten peace and security.

Xi's stress that China will always stick to the path of peaceful development signalled a clear message to the whole world, in the hope of jointly safeguarding the hard-won peace after the war, Munkhtuul said.

Benjamin Robles Montoya, a senator from the left-leaning Democratic Revolution Party of Mexico, said that over the last seven decades, China has shown its commitment to development and global cooperation.

"I salute President Xi's commitment to peace and I condemn past actions that sought to hurt the Chinese people and that must never be allowed to happen again," he said.

Mohamed el Ghali, a professor of politics at Cadi Ayyad University of Morocco, said China consistently advocates peaceful development.

Xi's announcement on the country's decision to cut troops again reminded the whole world that countries should devote more attention to development rather than arms race, he added.

He said China, a victim of Fascist and colonial aggressions, has not only achieved huge development, but also helped developing nations, especially African countries, realize prosperity and progress.

Peter J. Li, a tenured professor at University of Houston, said the announcement on the troops cut was a highlight in the V-Day Parade, which displayed China's defense capability in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and people's well-being, instead of a threat to peace.

Through this action, Li said, China declared its determination for international peace, cooperation and common development to the whole world.

Pui Jeng Leong, director of the Brunei edition of Malaysia's Chinese-language newspaper United Daily News, said Xi's speech showed a determination for peaceful development and friendly coexistence with other countries by commemorating the war history.

Xi stressed that China has no intention for hegemony and will stick to peaceful development and common prosperity, he recalled, adding that the speech made a strong response to different voices on China's development from the outside world. Endi