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BEIJING, September 3./TASS/. DF-5 and DF-31 intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as drones designed in China were shown at the military parade in the Chinese capital on Thursday in commemoration of China’s victory over Japan 70 years ago.
All in all 500 units of weaponry were rolled out, including tanks, self-propelled artillery weapons, as well as armored vehicles. Early warning warplanes were accompanied by a group of fighter jets coloring the sky in different colors.
A total of 200 aircraft and helicopter gunships were on display.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech
Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed on Thursday his country’s commitment to peace, urging joint effort of all countries towards maintaining international peace.
"We, the Chinese people, love peace. No matter how much stronger we will become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. China will never make other countries suffer," the Chinese leader said at a parade commemorating China’s WWII victory over Japan 70 years ago.
Xi Jinping, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army, said the present-day world was far from being tranquil. "A war is that sword of Damocles that is still hanging over the humankind. We must draw a lesson from history and devote ourselves to peace," the president said.
The president marked "China’s contribution to the cause of the humankind," and stated that the Chinese people would firmly defend the results of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and WWII. "The Chinese people will maintain friendly relations with all countries," he said.
"He urged all countries to "support together international order and the system, predetermined by the aims and principles of the UN Charter," marking the importance of "building a new type of international relations, based on mutually advantageous cooperation, as well as a need to pay special attention to a great cause of maintaining international peace and development".
China will cut the numerical force of its armed forces by 300,000 people, President Xi Jinping unveiling the parade.
Out of 2.3 million soldiers and officers in the Chinese armed forces, 1.6 million serve in the Army, 400,000 - in the Navy and 255,000 in the Air Forces.
China lost 35 million lives in the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and in WWII against Nazi Germany, while the Soviet Union lost 27 million lives, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, addressing the participants and guests of a military parade.
"Rolling through countries of Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, this war killed more than 100 million military and civilians," he said, urging effort to prevent repetition of this "historical tragedy".
The victory of the Chinese people in the resistance war "opened broad prospects for the revival of the Chinese nation," the president said.
China’s V-Day parade in Beijing
About 12,000 soldiers and officers took part in the parade, according to official date from organizers, including some 1,000 foreign troops. Belarus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Serbia, Russia and Tajikistan have sent honor guards of at least 70 people to the parade.
Russia was presented by a unit from the 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant’s Regiment that concluded the parade of troops.
Officials from 49 countries, including 30 presidents and prime ministers, attended the V-Day parade. The leaders of Russia, Belarus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, South Korea, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, South Africa and other states were on the rostrum.