President Xi Jinping honored veterans of World War II on Wednesday, Sept. 2, by bestowing medals to 30 Chinese and foreign veterans and civilians who fought for China during the war, ahead of the much-anticipated V-Day celebrations, the CRIENGLISH.com reported.
Premier Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were present at the ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that the country's national heroes, including those who died during World War II, form the "backbone" of the Chinese nation and their deeds and spirit inspire and motivate the country.
"Any nation with hope cannot be without heroes and any country with promising prospects cannot be without pioneers," Xi said.
Xi said that the awarding of the medals is a tribute to the war heroes and shows them that the Chinese people will remember history and cherish peace.
Xi attributed the heroic deeds to the "common willing of Chinese people" who stood united to fight Japanese aggression starting in 1931. He described the country's victory as "a miracle in the war history of mankind," as the Chinese people fought bitterly till the end in the face of fierce Japanese aggression.
The Chinese leader said that the patriotic spirit that gave birth to China's resistance against aggression is the driving force behind China's rejuvenation. He said that all those who struggled for China's national independence and development are all national heroes.
"Chinese people will never forget their enduring accomplishments."
Xi also extolled the deeds of the anti-fascist fighters from other countries that included the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, Korea, Canada and India, who fought side by side and built deep friendship with the Chinese people.
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 China, Burma and India during the war; and M. W. Bethune, the grandson of Norman Bethune, a famous Canadian army surgeon in China, were among those who received medals for heroism.
Around 210,000 veterans or relatives were granted medals by the central government.
The medal is embossed with WWII soldiers, a pagoda from a revolutionary base in Yan'an, the Yellow River, and an olive branch, which symbolizes CPC's critical role during the war, the country's drive for rejuvenation and its aspirations to attain world peace.