Successful China-Russia seminar:Remember History,Carry on Friendship and Build Future

Feng Miao

T o commemorate the 76th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World AntiFascist War， the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， the China-Russia Friendship Association and the Russian embassy in China held a seminar themed “Remember History， Carry on Friendship and Build Future” at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on Sept 14.

The more than 80 participants included Chen Yuan， vice chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and president of ChinaRussia Friendship Association； Ambassador Lin Songtian， president of the CPAFFC； Andrey Denisov， Russian ambassador to China； representatives of the descendants of Chinese and Russian revolutionaries； scholars， entrepreneurs， overseas students and youths.

In his speech， Chen said the great victory 76 years ago vindicated the friendship between China and Russia forged by blood and lives during the war. As major battlegrounds of World War II， China and Russia fought a bloody battle against a common enemy and with great sacrifice， secured a final victory against fascism and militarism， making an indelible contribution to the saving of humanity and the preservation of world peace.

Chen said people-to-people diplomacy is finding new opportunities in a new era. As one of the major organizations promoting ChinaRussia people-to-people diplomacy， the CRFA will continue to work with friends from both countries， take the 20th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia as an opportunity， uphold the principle of win-win cooperation and the confidence in the China-Russia friendship passing on from generation to generation， implement the important consensuses reached by leaders of both countries， unite and mobilize people from all sectors of society from both countries to strengthen communications and learn from each other， and make greater contributions to the bilateral friendship for generations to come and benefit the people of both countries.

Lin， in his remarks， said World War II was the largest and most devastating war in the history of mankind. It has inflicted painful damages on more than 60 countries and more than 2 billion people worldwide. In this unprecedented disaster in human civilization， justice triumphed over evil. China and Russia made tremendous sacrifices and decisive contributions in the War against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Lin said the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the transformation of international relations. Conventional and unconventional security threats are intertwined. Political viruses， a Cold War mentality， hegemony and power politics have been resurrected， he said， adding that whatever changes occur in the international arena， the original aspirations and shared missions of China and Russia to pursue winwin cooperation and carry on their traditional friendship have remained intact. Both countries will remain committed to defending their core national interests， promoting national revitalization and development， preserving regional and global peace and stability and upholding international equity and justice.

The best way to remember history， Lin said， is to open a new historical chapter and create a better future for all. President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin have sketched the blueprint for comprehensive development of China-Russia relations in a new era. The core mission of people-to-people diplomacy is to put the important consensuses reached by the two presidents and their strategic plans into practice， bring a sense of gain to the people and strengthen people-to-people friendship.

The CPAFFC will work with its Russian counterparts， first of all， to mobilize friends， friendship organizations and friendship cities， utilize bilateral cooperation mechanisms and platforms and realize new achievements in winwin cooperation in friendship cities， subnational governments and peopleto-people exchanges.

Second， he said， both sides will mobilize Chinese and Russian think tanks and media in collaboration to create a friendly social environment， convey positive energy and hail the everlasting amity between the two peoples.

Third， Lin continued， both sides， with an eye on the future， will progress side by side to nurture and consolidate the strength of youth to carry on the friendship between the two countries.

Denisov spoke highly of the traditional friendship between Russia and China. He said both countries made an indelible contribution to the victory in World War II， citing an old Chinese saying： “Calamity is my teacher.”

President Vladimir Putin and President Xi Jinping have both stressed that Russia and China must unveil the truth of history and defend equity and justice in the world， Denisov said. The everlasting amity between the two peoples， mutual understanding， support and trust are the prerequisite bedrock for the high-quality development of bilateral relations.

Both sides need to further consolidate this fine tradition， deepen peopleto-people exchanges and cooperation， work together to build a comprehensive strategic partnership that is not an alliance but even stronger， and better benefit the two peoples， he said.

Others who spoke at the seminar included Li Yongquan， vice-president of China-Russia Friendship Association and president of the China Institute of Russian， Eastern Europe and Central Asia Studies； Galina Kulikova， first vice-president of the Russia-China Friendship Association and senior fellow at the Institute of Far-Eastern Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences； Li Duoli， son of Li Fanwu， one of the early leaders of the Northeastern United Resistance Army and the first governor of Heilongjiang province； Liu Lida， great granddaughter of former Chinese president Liu Shaoqi； Huang Zuxiang， an executive council member of the China-Russia Friendship Association and chairman of the board of directors of Volga Abbey， a culture and tourism company in Harbin； Timur Andreev， representative of Russian Railways in China； and youth leaders from both countries.

They reviewed the revolutionary friendship forged when the two countries fought side by side， and the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. They noted that the United States and certain Western countries had formed an alliance against countries with different ideologies， instigated geopolitical conflicts to create international disturbances and tried to contain the development of China and Russia in every possible manner. Under these conditions， they said， it is crucially important for China and Russia to strengthen a comprehensive strategic partnership. They agreed to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries， work together to promote friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation， and contribute their wisdom and strength to the cause of friendship and the building of a human community with a shared future.

During the seminar， Lin and Denisov attended an unveiling ceremony for a photo exhibition — Fighting Together Against Japanese Aggressors —co-hosted by the China-Russia Friendship Association and Russian Cultural Center in Beijing.