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The 60 shots by the salute cannons and the floral baskets laid at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Saturday morning served as an important reminder of the day 60 years ago.
It was on that day that the Chinese people declared victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945).
The victory also signaled the world's final triumph over fascism. The proclamation was made with pride and confidence.
Sixty years on, the day of September 3, 1945 deserves a grand ceremony and, above all, serious and comprehensive reflection as President Hu Jintao exemplified in his speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing the same morning.
By winning the war with enormous sacrifices on the mainland as well as on Taiwan, in Hong Kong and Macao, the Chinese people were taking a great stride towards regaining their independence and dignity as well as their national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
After all, it was the first time the Chinese people had won since being subjected to repeated bullying and aggression by foreign powers starting from the 1840s.
That day should also remind us that the resistance war against the Japanese invaders was won only after the Chinese people forged a united front.
Victory could be attained only when "people from various political parties, ethnic groups, classes, social strata and organizations all rose to fight the common enemy at a time of national crisis," as Hu pointed out.
The Chinese people suffered about 35 million casualties on the mainland alone. In a half-century of Japanese occupation of Taiwan, about 650,000 of our compatriots died heroic deaths in pursuit of the same goal: driving the Japanese invaders out of China.
We will forever be thankful not only to those brave Chinese soldiers and guerrillas but also to all the people who came from around the world to join in the resistance war.
The Chinese people will not forget the loss of so many innocent lives at the hands of Japanese aggressors. The criminals who waged fascist war against mankind during World War II should forever be condemned.
This attitude comes from genuine respect for history, but, as Hu said, it does "not mean to continue the hatred."
But friendship and cooperation are possible only when the past is objectively recognized, and concrete actions that speak of true repentance and a promise not to wage overseas invasions again are carried out.
About 6,000 doves were released into the sunny blue sky to express the people's love for peace. However, world peace and development can be maintained only when all people commit to their memory the sufferings they went through and the enormous cost they paid in lives during the past wars.
That is why September 3, 1945 will forever remain on the calendar, for commemoration and retrospection.
(China Daily September 5, 2005)
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