International guests arrived at Duanmen Gate to the north of Tian'anmen in Beijing on Wednesday morning for a grand gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, dozens of heads of state and government will attend the commemorations, which include a military parade at the Tian'anmen Square.
The Chinese government also invited heads of parliaments, deputy prime ministers, high-level representatives, and former dignitaries of foreign countries as well as heads of international organizations to the event.
Later, President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will walk onto the Tian'anmen Rostrum together with the international guests.
China was the first to fight against fascist aggression and sustained the longest resistance. In the 14-year-long war, Chinese casualties exceeded 35 million. With huge national sacrifice, the Chinese people held ground in the main theater in the East of the World Anti-Fascist War.
Japan surrendered on Sept 2, 1945, signing the Instrument of Surrender to China and other Allied powers. China celebrated the victory the following day. In 2014, the country legislated to designate Sept 3 as the Victory Day of its War of Resistance.
Foreign guests arrive for China's V-Day gathering
Foreign guests arrive for China's V-Day gathering
