On May 8 local time, President Xi Jinping met in Moscow with 18 representatives of Russian veterans who once fought bravely in the battlefield of Northeast China in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and in the Great Patriotic War.

Among the 18 representatives were Makhmut Akhmetovich Gareyev, current President of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences, who participated in the combat to liberate Mudanjiang City, Taras Shude Luo, member of the Central Council of the Russia-China Friendship Association (RCFA) who participated in the liberation war of Shenyang City, and Abbasov, current Vice Chairman of the RCFA and Chairman of China Sub-committee of All-Russian Veterans Committee. The eldest of them is already 93 years old, but still hale and hearty.

When President Xi Jinping stepped into the meeting hall, all the veteran representatives rose and applauded to welcome him. Xi Jinping stood in front of the national flag of China, and the national anthems of Russia and China were played. Xi Jinping shook hands with the veteran representatives in turn, extended sincere greetings to them and awarded them with commemorative medals. When it was senile Gaverdovsky's turn to be awarded, Xi Jinping noticed his walking difficulties and voluntarily went over to award for him.

After awarding the medals, Xi Jinping delivered a speech on behalf of the Chinese government and people to extend heartfelt greetings and lofty respects towards Russian veterans who have made great contributions to the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascism War. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Russia holding the activities to commemorate the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascism War is meant to remember the history, reminisce the martyrs, cherish peace and open up the future. Many Russian veterans present participated in the liberation of Changchun, Shenyang, Mudanjiang, Dalian and other cities. They have made great contributions to the final victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The Chinese and Russian peoples have established profound friendship with their lives and laid a solid foundation for China-Russia relations as well as for friendship between the two peoples generation after generation. China and Russia should continuously consolidate the traditional friendship and keep striving for revitalization and prosperity together.

On behalf of Russian veterans, Makhmut Akhmetovich Gareyev delivered a speech, expressing gratitude to President Xi Jinping for attending the ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow. He said that the victory of the Great Patriotic War represents the victory of all the peace-loving people in the world, including the Russian and Chinese peoples. During World War II, the Chinese people started fighting against Japanese militarist aggression the earliest and the fight lasted the longest. The Chinese people fought very hard for national independence and freedom and made heavy sacrifice. In the great War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Communist Party of China (CPC) played a mainstay role. The Red Army of the Soviet Union made its effort to assist China to defeat Japanese militarism, during which Chinese soldiers and civilians provided tremendous support. Under the current circumstances, the Russian and Chinese peoples should unite more closely to jointly defend peace, human civilization and the future of the world.

Wang Huning, Fan Changlong, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at the meeting.