This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Victory of the World War against Fascism and China's Resistance War against Japanese Aggression. By holding this reception, we wish to pay tribute to those who have made outstanding contributions to the victory and highlight the themes of maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

More than 60 years ago, the fascists launched a global-scaled war of aggression, engulfing 2 billion people from 60 countries around the world. China was the earliest battlefield in the East. From September 18th, 1931 when the Japanese fascists invaded and occupied the Northeast China until their unconditional surrender on August 15th , 1945, the Chinese people had to suffer the Japanese invasion for 14 years. Those years witnessed untold atrocities committed by the Japanese militarists in China, including the bloody massacre in Nanjing. But the defiant Chinese people refused to be cowed and intimidated. They rose up to fight heroically against the brutal aggressors. An all-round war of resistance against Japanese aggression set off on July 7th, 1937, and concluded with Chinese people winning the final victory 8 years later in 1945.

During the war, the Chinese as a nation, sacrificed tremendously, suffering a total of 35 million military and civilian casualties, not to mention more than 500 billion US dollars economic loss.

With China becoming a major battle-ground in the Far East, China's war of resistance signified the prelude to the world war against fascism. Chinese people's persistent struggle successfully pinned down the principle force of Japanese fascism, greatly relieving the pressure on the allied forces in both the European and Pacific theatres. China's victory over the Japanese aggression constitutes a major contribution to the victory of the world anti-Fascism war, with a far-reaching significance to the promotion of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

Amid the fire of war and the life-and-death struggle, the Canadian people, among many others, joined the Anti-Fascism forces. The Canadians did not only fight in the Far East, places like Hong Kong and Burma, they also came to our support. One of them was a doctor named Norman Bethune, who went to China to help in the war of resistance as a field surgeon. He worked day and night under the harshest conditions and eventually died on the battlefield while saving the lives of Chinese soldiers. Dr. Bethune has become a hero to both the Chinese and Canadian people. Late Chairman Mao Zedong of China praised him "As a selfless internationalist and a role model for every human being".

We salute the noble spirit of Dr. Bethune and the selfless assistance of the Canadian people. What they have done have contributed to bringing peace and freedom to the people of Asia-Pacific, and to a solid foundation and powerful driving force for the constant progress of China-Canada relations.

Recalling the past, we cherish the memory of the Chinese, Canadians and those of all the other countries in the world who sacrificed for the justice and liberation cause of mankind and therefore, value all the more the peace that was hard-won. From the historical experience and lessons, we have learnt that peace is in the supreme common interest of mankind and we should never allow a repeat of the historical tragedy of the world war. Past offers us all the lessons for future. China is ready to work together with people in Canada and of all the peace-loving countries across the world to seek and safeguard peace, stability, harmony and development for common prosperity. Let us work hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder for this common goal.