PRESIDENT Xi Jinping yesterday gave medals to 30 Chinese and foreign veterans and civilians who fought for China in World War II, ahead of the country’s high-profile V-Day celebrations, which will start at 10 a.m. in Beijing today.

    Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said all national heroes, including those in World War II, are the “backbone” of the Chinese nation and their deeds and spirit are a great driving force for the country.

    “Any nation with hope cannot be without heroes and any country with promising prospects cannot be without pioneers,” he said.

    Xi said the purpose of the medal ceremony is to pay tribute to the war heroes and show that the Chinese people will cherish peace and remember history.

    Xi attributed their heroic deeds to the “common will of Chinese people” who united at hard times to fight against Japanese aggression starting in 1931.

    Xi described China’s victory as “a miracle in the war history of mankind” as heroic Chinese people fought to the very end in spite of brutal Japanese aggression.

    He said the patriotic spirit that has taken shape through China’s resistance against aggression is the driving force for China’s rejuvenation.

    Those who struggled for China’s national independence and development are all national heroes, he said. “Chinese people will never forget their enduring accomplishments.”

    Xi also highly praised the international anti-fascist fighters from countries including the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, Korea, Canada and India who fought side by side and forged profound friendships with Chinese people.

    Among those honored with medals were Anna Chan Chennault, wife of American pilot Claire Chennault who volunteered to fight against the Japanese air force during the war, Joseph W. Stilwell, grandson of Joseph Stilwell, commander of the China-Burma-India Theater, and M. W. Bethune, the grandson of Norman Bethune, a famous Canadian army surgeon in China.

    China’s Central Government decided to grant such medals to roughly 210,000 veterans or relatives.

    The front of the medal is embossed with soldiers, a pagoda from a revolutionary base in Yan’an, the Yellow River and an olive branch. It symbolizes CPC’s decisive role during the war, China’s drive for rejuvenation and its aspirations for world peace.

    The ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Chinese leaders Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were also present.

    U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and 30 heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean President Park Geun-hye, will join Xi on the bleachers overlooking Tiananmen Square, where the parade takes place this morning.

    Xi will deliver a speech before the V-Day military parade. He will inspect the troops afterwards.

    Eleven marching formations, 27 armament formations, 10 aircraft formations and two veteran teams will participate in the parade. For the first time, service men and women from 18 countries will march past the heart of China, to remember a part of Oriental history often ignored in the West.

    China’s major State media will provide a live broadcast of the parade, which will feature tanks, missiles and more than 12,000 troops.(Xinhua)

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