Wang Yi meets with Togolese foreign minister

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, extended congratulations to Togo on the smooth transition of its political system and expressed support for Togo in actively exploring a governance path that suits its national conditions. The friendship between China and Togo was forged by the elder generation of leaders and has a solid foundation, said Wang.

Last year, the relationship between China and Togo was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and China is ready to deepen mutual trust with Togo, enrich the bilateral relationship with dimensions in the new era, continue to support Togo in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and national dignity, and join the Global South in seeking strength through unity to defend the basic norms governing international relations, said Wang.

Wang Yi said that China has successfully embarked on a modernization path with Chinese characteristics, offering a new option for countries around the world that want to speed up their development while preserving their independence.

The United States is raising tariffs, while China is cutting tariffs; the United States emphasizes putting its interests first, while China practices mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, said Wang.

At the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping announced that China will expand its zero-tariff policy for Africa, and the benefits for Africa will become more evident, said Wang, noting that China does not seek selfish gains in its cooperation with Africa, nor does it engage in geopolitical contests.

The Chinese side will consistently uphold the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, act on the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith which guides China's policy toward Africa, and help Africa accelerate its independent development to achieve modernization together, said Wang Yi.

Dussey stated that Togo has firmly upheld the one-China principle since the very first day of establishing diplomatic relations, and this stance has never changed. He expressed gratitude for China's strong support for Togo's development over the years, and looks forward to deepening practical cooperation in various fields. He congratulated China on the successful hosting of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators, which demonstrates China's determination and sincerity in supporting Africa's development, and further clarifies to the world who is the true friend of Africa and who is genuinely contributing to Africa.

The series of global initiatives proposed by China uphold the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, and have made decisive contributions to promoting global stability and prosperity, said Dussey, noting that Togo is willing to work with China to jointly advance the implementation of the series of global initiatives.

Wang Yi meets with Togolese foreign minister

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