On May 11 local time, President Xi Jinping and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus met with 15 representatives of Belarusian veterans of the World War II at the Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum in Minsk.

Eleven of the fifteen veterans, aged from 88 to 95, fought shoulder to shoulder with Chinese soldiers and civilians against the Japanese invaders in Northeastern China and made positive contributions to the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

As Xi Jinping and Alexander Lukashenko stepped into the meeting hall, all the veterans stood up and welcomed them with applause. The national anthems of China and Belarus were played. Xi Jinping shook hands with all the veterans and awarded each of them a commemorative medal.

After the awarding ceremony, Xi Jinping made a speech and extended great respect and sincere regards to the veterans on behalf of the Chinese government and people. Xi Jinping pointed out that during the WWII, the Belarusian people fired the first shot in the Great Patriotic War, which demonstrated a spirit of indomitable heroism and won them the widespread praise and respect from people around the world. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, which was the first to break out, lasted the longest and sacrificed the most, making everlasting and significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-fascist War. The Chinese and Belarusian people fought side by side and forged a strong friendship at the cost of blood during the wars against fascism and militarism. We deeply cherish the memory of the heroes of both countries who sacrificed their lives to win the final victory of the wars and safeguard world peace. The Chinese and Belarusian people will remember their great achievements forever. President Alexander Lukashenko said upon the opening of the new Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum that the Belarusian people would never allow attempts distorting the history of the WWII or whitewashing aggression. And I deeply agree on these words. We are willing to work with people of Belarus and all other nations in the world to jointly safeguard the victorious outcomes of the WWII and international fairness and justice.

Alexander Lukashenko said that it is of great significance for President Xi Jinping to visit Belarus upon the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-fascist War. During the WWII, the Belarusian and Chinese people established a fraternal friendship. Currently, both countries should enhance mutual trust and get more closely united. This year China will hold commemorative activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War, and Belarus firmly supports this. This is to remember the history, honor the martyrs and warn the descendants that history is not to be distorted.

Prior to the meeting, Xi Jinping and Alexander Lukashenko jointly visited the Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum. Upon his arrival at the museum, Xi Jinping was received by Alexander Lukashenko in person at the entrance, where young students of China and Belarus waved their national flags to welcome Xi Jinping. The museum houses over 140,000 items displayed by chronological order from before the Great Patriotic War to post-war reconstruction, demonstrating the heroic history during which the Belarusian soldiers and civilians united together to fight against fascist invaders to defend their homeland. The museum also contains a special exhibition area named “Belarus and China—Brotherhood in Flames of War”, demonstrating the barbarism of the Japanese fascist invaders and the heroic deeds of the Chinese soldiers and civilians in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression through a large number of photos and objects. Xi Jinping carefully listened to the introduction and inscribed on the autograph album “Remember History and Safeguard Peace.”

On the same day, Xi Jinping also laid a wreath to Belarus’ Victory Monument.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the above activities.