China's military parade marking 80th victory anniversary to feature historical elements

China's military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War highlights the theme of victory against Japanese aggression, incorporating historical elements, said one of the top organizers of the commemoration.

At a press conference held by China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday, Wu Zeke, a major general and deputy director of the Leading Group Office of Military Parade, introduced the arrangements for the military parade on September 3 at the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.

The military parade, which is an institutional arrangement for major national memorial events, is a vital part of this year's commemorative event with great political and far-reaching historical significance. Highlighting the theme of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the parade focus on theme of victory and the spirit of war of resistance and integrates the three major elements into the overall design of the event, Wu said.

"First is to carry forward the legacy of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The participating troops are mainly chosen from the units with historical ties to troops involved in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, including major forces like the Eighth Route Army, the New Fourth Army, the Northeast United Army, and the South China Guerrilla Forces. This fully reflects the arduous journey of the people's army against Japanese aggression and underscores the historical inheritance of the revolutionary traditions," said Wu.

"Second is to respect honors and pride. The parade will feature selected banners of honor awarded to military units during the war of resistance, highlighting the great victories and enduring contributions of the people's army in the war. This is also a tribute to revolutionary martyrs, a reminder of the lasting memories of those troops with great merits and honors, and a reaffirmation of the commitment to upholding fine traditions," he said. "Third is to relive historical classics. We established a joint military band to perform well-known songs of the war of resistance, and specially designed signs for the military parade. These elements aim to help people across the country to revisit the history of the war of resistance and reflect on its spirit, and inspire the people's army to resolutely defend the dignity of the country and the nation," he said.

China's military parade marking 80th victory anniversary to feature historical elements

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to China signals a policy shift towards building a more pragmatic relationship between the two countries, according to a Canadian researcher.

Carney arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to begin an official visit to China through Saturday, which marks the first trip by a Canadian Prime Minister to the country in eight years.

Robert Hanlon, director and principal investigator of Canada and the Asia Pacific Policy Project (CAPPP) at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) that Carney's visit indicates Canada is recalibrating its strategic perception of China, which could cement the foundation for the country's economic diversification efforts and boost the development of bilateral cooperation.

"I think it's a clear message that he has moved Canada's strategy to a much more pragmatic, interest-based, -focused relationship with our trading partners, moving away from values-based narratives that we might have heard on previous governments. Canada has spoken about moving from what the Prime Minister's Office is calling "from reliance to resilience", and that means diversifying our economies and our trade everywhere in the world. And so China being our second largest trading partner, it makes perfect sense for our PM to head to Beijing," he said.

The scholar also noted the huge cooperation potential between the two sides in economic and trade fields, citing Canada's efforts to step up shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the planned construction of an oil pipeline in Alberta which aims to increase export access to Asian markets. "Canada and China both share tremendous economic opportunities together and so finding ways to enhance our exports. Canada specifically looking to build out its LNG and oil, kind of export market. We know Canada is a major producer of critical minerals and China is a buyer. And so there's a lot of synergy between that kind of those kind of markets," he said.

Canadian PM's visit to China paves way for more pragmatic trade ties: scholar