Chinese FM meets his Burkina Faso counterpart in Changsha

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean Marie Traore in Changsha, provincial capital of central China's Hunan, on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that since the resumption of diplomatic relations seven years ago, China and Burkina Faso have fully restored bilateral relations, contributing to the national development and economic growth of Burkina Faso, bringing tangible benefits to the Burkinabe people. Facts have proven that the resumption of China-Burkina Faso diplomatic relations fully serves the fundamental and long-term interests of Burkina Faso and its people.

Wang stated that China consistently upholds the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and respects the choices made by the Burkinabe people. China will continue to support Burkina Faso in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions and driven by self-reliance. China is ready to consolidate mutual trust and friendship with Burkina Faso, enhance the exchange of governance experience, and provide support and assistance within its capacity for Burkina Faso's development and revitalization.

He also said that since the Beijing Summit, China has granted Burkina Faso zero-tariff treatment for all tariff lines, which will strongly boost the country's exports to China. China is ready to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Burkina Faso, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country, and help accelerate its industrialization process.

Wang also expressed the belief that Burkina Faso will ensure the security and safety of Chinese enterprises and personnel in the country.

Traore expressed his pleasure at the elevation of Burkina Faso-China relations to a strategic partnership last year. Burkina Faso highly commended China for demonstrating leadership, supporting Africa's development and turning the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation into a highlight of South-South cooperation, he said.

He thanked China for its support to Burkina Faso since the resumption of diplomatic relations, reaffirmed Burkina Faso's firm commitment to the one-China policy and expressed support for China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Burkina Faso and China share a common vision of seeking well-being for their people. Burkina Faso is willing to deepen sincere and friendly cooperation with China and looks forward to China's continued support and assistance, Traore said.

Chinese FM meets his Burkina Faso counterpart in Changsha

Chinese FM meets his Burkina Faso counterpart in Changsha

Japan should better inform its younger generations about its history of aggression during World War II (WWII) to raise anti-war awareness in society, according to descendants of Japanese invaders in China during WWII.

On July 7, 1937, Japanese troops attacked Chinese forces at the Lugou Bridge on the outskirts of Beijing, marking the beginning of Japan's full-scale invasion of China and China's nationwide resistance against the Japanese invaders, initiating a whole-of-nation war effort that opened the main Eastern battlefield in the global war against fascism.

In a recent interview with China Media Group, Kuroi Akio, one of the five descendants who visited China last year for an apology tour, warned about the lack of information in today's education system regarding Japan's wartime invasion of China and other Asian countries.

"Three years ago, I asked a group of children between the ages of six and 10 if Japan had ever been in a war and where it was fought. About 70 children raised their hands, so I asked them one by one. Every child answered 'America,' and not one mentioned any other country. The children knew about the war with the United States and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, they didn't know about Japan's invasions of China, the Korean Peninsula, China's Taiwan region, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This is the reality, and that's why the education in Japan is so hopeless," said Kuroi, who knelt down before the Chinese people during his apology tour in northeast China's Jilin Province last September.

Kurokawa Yasuko, another descendant, also called for better education in Japan about its wartime history, saying it was essential for a properly informed public opinion.

"I think that [the lack of war history education] is wrong. It's important to teach students the history of Japan's invasion to others in the modern world, otherwise the public opinion of this country will be steered in the wrong direction," she said.

"We hope to create a strong anti-war public opinion in Japan. My activities are called 'micro-power' in Japan, a tiny power indeed, but by gathering voices of support and agreement, such drops of water will become a stream, a river, and eventually an ocean. Without a peaceful future, mankind can't survive. Humanity's future can only be realized through the belief in peace," Kuroi said.

Japan should better inform younger generations about its wartime atrocities: WWII descendants