70th anniversary of the Great Victory

MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) - The Belarusian people won the respect of the peoples of the world for their heroism and enormous sacrifices during World War II, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the people's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus Cui Qiming said when speaking at the roundtable to discuss the 70th anniversary of Victory in World War II and the 70^th anniversary of the United Nations at the House of Friendship on 17 June, BelTA has learned.

"70 years ago two important events took place in the global sphere of maintaining peace and development. These were the Great Victory in the Second World War and the establishment of the United Nations,” said the diplomat. “The disaster and the suffering caused by the aggressive war launched by the fascists and militarists were unprecedented in the history and were the worst page. In the face of the terrible war, the Belarusian people took the first brunt of the fascists, suffered huge losses - a third of the population died. However, it was in the Belarusian land that Hitler's Blitzkrieg plan was buried and the foundation for the future great victory was laid down. At the cost of the lives of fellow countrymen the Belarusians defended the independence of the nation and the state. "The heroism of people earned Belarus the respect of the peoples of the world," said the head of the diplomatic mission.

He also noted that during World War II, China was the main theater of war in Asia. “The Chinese people rose to fight the militarists before anyone else, had to fight the longest war, fought under the most severe conditions and suffered enormous casualties and losses. “At the cost of the enormous sacrifice - the lives of more than 35 million people - the Chinese people won the great victory and thus made a great contribution to the Victory in the world anti-fascist war,” said Cui Qiming.

Cui Qiming recalled that during his visit to Belarus, in a ceremony at the State Museum of the Great Patriotic War Chinese President XI Jinping awarded 15 Belarusian veterans who fought against the aggressors at the end of the Second World War. "We do not forget that during the war the Chinese and Belarusian peoples supported each other, sealed the combat friendship by the blood of those who died in the struggle for independence,” the diplomat said. “We will always remember the names of the fallen heroes and their role in winning the victory, in protecting the peace on the Earth,” Cui Qiming noted.

The roundtable was initiated by the Chinese Embassy in Belarus in cooperation with the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Ties with Foreign Countries. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, the Belarusian Council of Veterans, the National Academy of Sciences, the International Relations Department at the Belarusian State University, the UNDP, and the friendship society Belarus-China.