Wang Yi meets with Mozambican foreign minister

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas in Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan in central China.

During the meeting, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Mozambique's independence as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Over the past five decades, both sides have firmly supported each other's core interests, with their cooperation bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries and writing a vivid chapter in China-Mozambique relations, said Wang.

Looking ahead, China is ready to work with Mozambique to uphold their original aspiration, deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, strengthen strategic coordination, continue mutual support, and jointly open a new, even more prosperous chapter in bilateral relations over the next 50 years, said Wang.

China appreciates Mozambique’s commitment to the one-China principle and stands ready to support Mozambique in accelerating its industrialization and modernization, said Wang, noting that China will also continue to dispatch medical experts to Mozambique.

Wang stated that changes and chaos mark the current international landscape, noting that the United States prioritizes its own interests, withdraws from international treaties and organizations, and arbitrarily imposes tariff hikes and unilateral sanctions -- actions that are not consistent with the conduct of a responsible major country.

China upholds win-win cooperation and remains a true friend and partner to Africa, said Wang, adding that China welcomes support and assistance to Africa from all parties, but opposes using Africa for bloc confrontation or seeking geopolitical interests.

He said China stands ready to work with its African partners to jointly uphold the basic norms of international relations and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. China will effectively implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit, follow through on the Changsha Declaration, and support Africa in accelerating its development and revitalization, Wang said.

Lucas congratulated China on the successful conclusion of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for announcing new measures to further support Africa’s development.

Noting that the friendship between Mozambique and China has a long history, characterized by mutual trust and a bond as close as family, Lucas thanked China for its support in Mozambique’s independence and liberation, national development, and healthcare sector, as well as for standing firmly with Mozambique during difficult times.

She said the relationship between the two countries is historic and strategic. Mozambique reiterated its commitment to the one-China principle and expressed firm support for China in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and integrity, said Lucas, stressing that this is important not only for China but for all African countries as well.

Lucas said Mozambique appreciates China’s countermeasures against unilateral tariff hikes, which sends a strong message on behalf of the Global South. She added that Mozambique is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on international and multilateral affairs.

Wang Yi meets with Mozambican 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