Chinese president views "Victory Day" parade on Red Square
cctv.com 05-10-2005 13:18
Together with leaders from over fifty countries, Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in Moscow. The world leaders and dignitaries watched as thousands of soldiers and war veterans paraded across the Red Square.
Prior to the ceremony, President Hu Jintao met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday morning at the Kremlin.
The celebration began at 10 o'clock local time. After a speech by Russian president Putin, a salute was fired and the national anthem of the Russian Federation was played before the parade started. Soldiers in modern and WWII-era uniforms and with WWII-era weapons marched in tight formation. The slap of their boots echoed across the cobblestones of the Red Square. It also featured MIG and Sukhoi fighter jets flying past over Red Square. Silver-haired veterans with rows of medals on their chests filled the stands on the periphery of Red Square, with a huge victory banner draped across its long facade.
After attending the celebration, President Hu said the invasion and war 60 years ago was an unprecedented catastrophe in human history, involving over 60 countries and nearly 2 billion people. He noted that people around the world defended and safeguarded their countries with their blood, containing fascism and contributing to victory.
President Hu Jintao stressed that people should learn the lessons of history to avoid the repeat of wars in the future. He said society should take history as a mirror and use it -- as we look forward and proceed into the future. He also said that peace, development and cooperation have become the trends in today's world. And he said peace is the precondition for development, while development is an important basis for peace. And he added that cooperation is an important way for achieving lasting peace and joint development. President Hu Jintao stressed that people from all nations should grasp the opportunity and make concerted efforts to safeguard peace and stability, promote common development, and push for full cooperation.
President Hu added that China will unswervingly follow the road of peace and development. And he said that China is willing to join hands with all nations in the world to make bigger contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
Hu and other leaders also joined a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Earlier on Sunday, during a meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, the Chinese president expressed his gratitude to about 30 Russian war veterans for their assistance in fighting Japanese invaders. President Hu thanked the Russian war veterans -- who helped the Chinese to fight against invading Japanese troops on Chinese soil.
President Hu Jintao noted that during a crucial stage of China's war against Japanese occupation, the Soviet Red Army marched into northeastern China and joined alongside Chinese forces. And he added that the valor, sacrifices and heroic achievements of the Red Army will forever be engraved in the minds of the Chinese people.
Editor:Chen Zhuo Source:CCTV.com
