The guard of honor of the three services of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) take part in the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2015. (Photo: Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)
China on Tuesday announced plans for commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, including inviting foreign militaries to participate in a parade on Sept. 3.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will speak at the event, Wang Shiming, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Xi will present medals to war veterans and the families of the deceased, Wang said.
This year is the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance againstJapanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It will be the first time China has held a parade to commemorate the events.
Qu Rui, deputy director of the Parade Steering Group Office, said representatives of veterans, civilians who supported the army during the war and surviving members of the families of the fallen will take part in the parade, which will "show our respect for veterans, civilians and martyrs alike."
Troops to be reviewed will come from seven military area commands. Navy, Air Force, Second Artillery Force, Armed Police and units under the direct command of thePeople's Liberation Army(PLA) general headquarters and departments will all take part, said Qu, who is deputy chief of operations of the PLA general staff.
Also marching will be representatives of heroic or model troops in the war, he said. Equipment and armaments on display will be mainly home-made weaponry in active service, many of which will be given their first public outing.
"We have invited foreign militaries to participate," Qu said, adding that all preparations for the parade adhere to the principles of pragmatism, frugality and efficiency.
All parade troops have been assembled at a Beijing training base and adjacent airports. They will train for three months for the event.
Japan signed the formal surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, and China celebrated its victory the following day.
Read more: Foreign troops invited to participate in V-Day parade
China has invited foreign militaries to take part in a military parade this fall in Beijing marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II.
"It's the first time to invite the foreign troops to participate. We hope through this year's military parade, history and the future can be connected, China and the world can be connected and the message of peace and development can be sent," said Qu Rui, deputy director of parade steering group office, at a press conference on Tuesday.
Read more: KMT veterans to be invited to attend V-Day parade
Some Kuomintang (KMT) veterans will take part in a military parade in Tian'anmen Square on Sept. 3 on the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II, according to parade organizers on Tuesday.
"KMT troops played an important role in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression," Major-general Qu Rui, one of the parade organizers, said at a press conference.
