On the morning of April 30, 2005, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui, at the invitation of the International Press Center (IPC), gives a briefing for domestic and international journalists as well as information officers of foreign embassies in China on the related background of President Hu Jintao's attendance of the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of Russia's victory in the war of defending the country to be held in Moscow from May 8 to 9. Deputy Director-General Qin Gang of the Information Department hosted the briefing.

Li said that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the victory of World War against Fascism and all countries in the world are celebrating this great victory in human history in different ways. On May 9, Russia will hold the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of the victory of war of defending the country in Moscow, which is not only a major multilateral diplomatic event but also a part of the worldwide celebrations on the 60th anniversary of the victory over fascism. At the invitation of President Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the celebrations. In addition to China, 51 heads of state and government of countries and representatives of international organizations including the US, the CIS and the EU, India and the UN will be present at the event.

Li pointed out that the attendance of President Hu Jintao is a major diplomatic activity of China for this year, to which both China and Russia pay great attention. It is well known that during World War II the Chinese and Russian people fought shoulder to shoulder and made outstanding historical contributions to the victory against fascism at the cost of tremendous national sacrifice. By attending the celebrations President Hu Jintao hopes use this important multilateral diplomatic platform to further stimulate the development of China-Russia strategic partnership and build up the bilateral political mutual trust while demonstrating China's image as a peace-loving power in the world, displaying China's adherence to the independent foreign policy of peace and resolute determination of taking the road of peaceful development and expressing China's sincere hope of working with the rest countries in the world to build peace, common development and prosperity.

Li noted that President Hu will stay in Russia for a short period of time and the schedule is rather tight including a number of multilateral and bilateral activities covering wide areas. The major events are as follows: first, President Hu Jintao, President Putin and leaders of other countries will observe a parade at the Red Square, present flowers to the tomb of the unknown soldiers and participant in the grand banquet hosted by President Putin; second, President Hu Jintao and President Putin will hold bilateral talks and exchange in-depth views on bilateral ties and international issues of common concern; third, President Hu Jintao will meet with leaders including British Prime Minister, French President Chirac, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, President Niyazov of Turkmenistan and Romanian President Basescu and widely contact the leaders of countries present at the celebrations. Furthermore, President Hu will meet with a number of Russian veterans of and representatives of the surviving dependants of those died in the Chinese War of Resistance against Japanese Invasion and Russia's War of Defending the Country and deliver a speech. This event is of great significance: first, paying tribute and expressing friendship to the Russian people and the Russian veterans of the war against fascism and showing that the Chinese people value the traditional China-Russia friendship very much; second, demonstrating China's stance of peace and elaborating that the war 60 years ago was an unprecedented catastrophe and caused great disaster to both the Chinese and the Russian people. "Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future." Joint efforts should be made to protect the hard-win peace; third, declaring to the entire world that China is a peace-loving country and a major force of safeguarding world peace and stability. China firmly pursues the independent foreign policy of peace and stands ready to join hands with the rest countries in the world to build the peaceful road of common development.

Li indicated that he believes that the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of the victory of Russia's war of defending the country to be held in Moscow will become a grand event of peace and of great realistic and historic significance to maintaining world peace and promoting common development and prosperity. The celebrations will definitely be a full success.

Later Li took questions from the journalists.