HK holds event to mark 70th anni. of V-Day, Taiwan recovery from Japanese occupation

Sun Chunlan (front R), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, awards a medal to a veteran at an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the recovery of sovereignty over Taiwan at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong, south China, Oct. 5, 2015. More than 1,300 people from Chinese mainland, China's Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao attended the event. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

HONG KONG, Oct. 5 -- A large-scale event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the recovery of sovereignty over Taiwan was held here Monday.

Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended the commemorating ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

Sun, also head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, also awarded medals to 10 veterans who fought against Japanese invasion.

The veterans include six from the Communist-led troop Dongjiang Column, three from the Kuomintang-led troop and one from the Flying Tigers.

Vice chairman of China's top political advisory body Tung Chee- hwa, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Zhang Xiaoming attended the event which was organized by more than 50 organizations in Hong Kong.

Sun said when the V-Day parade was held on Sept. 3, Chinese President Xi Jinpingdeclared that "Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail," suggesting that the world and China are marching towards peaceful development with unshakable belief.

Leung said during the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, Hong Kong people together with other Chinese people had achieved resplendent military successes.

He said national security is the premise of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, adding people in Hong Kong have the responsibility to maintain national security together with other Chinese people.

Yok Mu-ming, chairman of Taiwan's New Party, said it's necessary to let more compatriots, especially the younger generation, know that the victory had proved that as long as all the Chinese compatriots are united, China will not be defeated, and will grow strong.

Lin Zhen, a veteran of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Wang Xiaobo, a professor of Taiwan's Shih Hsin University, were among a number of representatives that spoke at the event.

More than 1,300 people from the Chinese mainland, China's Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao attended the event.

A declaration of peace was released at the commemorative event, calling for all Chinese people to be united and uphold the spirits cherished during the war times, and jointly make efforts to fulfill the Chinese dream of great national rejuvenation.