Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping shake hands as a symbol of continued diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The Russian government recently honored 53 Chinese veterans who lived and worked near Moscow during World War II during a medal ceremony at the country’s embassy in Beijing.
The April 15 event is part of the grand activities organized by China and Russia in commemoration of the 70th-year anniversary of the end of the infamous global war. The line-up of events, which tallies to 60, also celebrates the strengthened ties between the nations.
"Russia and all Russian people thank you for your contribution to the victory of the Great Patriotic War," Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov remarked.
Denisov added that Russia "will remember the heroes who protected and liberated the Soviet Union and contributed to the anti-fascist war, no matter which country they come from."
Thrity-two veterans attended the ceremony. The rest was unable to participate because of age as well as ill health.
The Jubilee Medals of the war veterans who partook in the event were already handed, while those that are for the rest will either be presented in the hospital or at their homes.
A great majority of the Chinese veterans who were lauded are descendants of China's first generation of top officials, including Mao Zedong's daughter, Li Min.
Chen Zutao, a representative of the recipients, recounted: "I stayed in Russia for 13 years and graduated from a Russian college. In 1940, I came to the Soviet Union. One year later, the Germans attacked the Soviet Union. I went through the events that followed with the Russian people. We were tested together by the war."
Many of the veterans stayed at Ivanovo International Orphanage, a Moscow-based international school, from 1941 to 1945. The institution is where Josip Broz Tito, together with other Communist leaders, received part of his education.
