On May 3, the Honor Guard of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army participated in a rehearsal for the parade in Moscow commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

On May 5, Russian visitors viewed an exhibition on ancient Chinese food culture in Moscow.

On February 12, the Russian Chinese General Chamber of Commerce held the third “Lantern Festival Gala” event in Moscow. The photo shows Russian youth performing Chinese drum music.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the World Anti-Fascist War. Over 80 years ago, my grandfather, as a flight commander in the Soviet volunteer air force aiding China, went to China and piloted fighter planes against Japanese forces in places like Wuhan and Lanzhou, eventually laying to rest on Chinese soil. As a descendant of a martyr, I gradually learned about my grandfather’s deeds and the glorious history of the Russian and Chinese people fighting side by side against aggression, and I have devoted myself to the cause of Russia-China friendship.

“During the difficult times of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet volunteer air force aiding China ‘soared through the skies’ to intercept the Japanese invaders in Nanjing, Wuhan, Chongqing, and other places, with many pilots sacrificing their precious lives.” In May of this year, during a state visit to Russia to attend commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, the Chinese President specifically mentioned the contributions of the Soviet volunteer air force aiding China in a signed article, demonstrating the value placed on the historical camaraderie of the Russian and Chinese people fighting together and supporting each other.

As major victorious nations in World War II, it is of great significance for Russia and China to jointly celebrate this great victory. Following the Chinese President’s visit to Russia in May, the Russian President was invited to attend commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in September. The mutual visits by the two heads of state within the year and their attendance at each other’s commemorative events highlight the strategic guidance of the two leaders for bilateral relations and inject new momentum into the development of relations between the two countries.

In 2015, I went to Beijing to attend the commemorative meeting for the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. This year, I was invited to participate in the commemorations for the 80th anniversary. On September 3, I ascended the Tiananmen Rostrum and witnessed the grand military parade. The Chinese President delivered an important speech, expressing heartfelt thanks to foreign governments and international friends who supported and aided the Chinese people in resisting aggression, and emphasized: “The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable! The noble cause of human peace and development is bound to triumph!” The entire venue erupted into prolonged, warm applause, leaving a very profound impression.

I have been deeply moved by the fact that the Chinese government and people have always remembered the international friends who aided China’s resistance. In recent years, I have been invited to China multiple times to learn about the history of the Soviet volunteer air force aiding China, exchange views with Chinese scholars, and pay respects at Soviet martyr cemeteries and monuments across the country. I learned that the Chinese government has made tremendous efforts in commemorating and publicizing the stories of the Soviet pilots. My grandfather sacrificed his life near Lanzhou by the Yellow River. Today, the Lanzhou Air Battle Memorial Pavilion has been renovated, and the monument records the heroic deeds of the pilots from both countries fighting side by

Moscow

Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, with a recorded history dating back over 800 years to its first mention in 1147. It grew from a medieval fortress (the Kremlin) to become the political and cultural heart of the Russian state, serving as the capital of the Tsardom of Russia, the Soviet Union, and now the modern Russian Federation. The city is famed for iconic landmarks like Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Kremlin complex, which reflect its long and turbulent history of empire, revolution, and global influence.

Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War

The “Great Patriotic War” refers to the Soviet Union’s conflict against Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945 within World War II. It is a central event in Russian and post-Soviet historical memory, marked by immense sacrifice, with over 20 million Soviet civilian and military deaths. The war’s legacy is commemorated through numerous memorials, museums like those on Moscow’s Poklonnaya Hill, and the enduring national holiday of Victory Day on May 9th.

Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) was a major conflict within World War II, marking China’s prolonged and costly struggle against Imperial Japan’s invasion. It began with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937, leading to a full-scale war that resulted in immense Chinese casualties and devastation. This war is a foundational event in modern Chinese history, seen as a crucial part of the global anti-fascist effort and a key element in shaping contemporary Chinese national identity.

World Anti-Fascist War

The “World Anti-Fascist War” refers to the global conflict from 1939 to 1945, known as World War II, which was fundamentally a struggle against the expansionist and aggressive ideologies of fascist states like Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. It is commemorated in China and some other nations as a pivotal war of resistance, highlighting the united efforts of the Allied powers and the immense sacrifices made to achieve victory and preserve world peace.

Wuhan

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province in central China, historically known as a major transportation hub formed by the merging of three towns—Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang—at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. It gained modern prominence as the site of the 1911 Wuchang Uprising, which led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty, and more recently as the initial epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019. Today, it is a vibrant metropolis known for its universities, research institutions, and cultural landmarks like the Yellow Crane Tower.

Lanzhou

Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu Province in northwest China, historically a major hub on the ancient Silk Road where the route crossed the Yellow River. Its most famous cultural landmark is the Zhongshan Bridge, the first permanent bridge over the Yellow River in the area, completed in 1909. The city is also known for the nearby Bingling Temple Grottoes, a series of Buddhist cave temples dating back to the 4th century.

Nanjing

Nanjing is a historic city in eastern China that served as the capital for several dynasties, most notably during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) when it was one of the world’s largest cities. It is also remembered for its tragic role in modern history as the site of the Nanjing Massacre during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. Today, it is a major cultural and educational center, home to landmarks like the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the preserved city walls.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a major city in southwestern China, historically serving as the wartime capital during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Today, it is a sprawling municipality known for its dramatic mountainous setting at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, its spicy Sichuan cuisine, and its role as a key economic and transportation hub in inland China.