Bai Le and Ren Guanhong: Commemorating Historical Memories, Illuminating the Path to the Future
From May 7 to 10, President Xi Jinping conducted a state visit to Russia and attended the celebrations marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War. This marked President Xi's 11th visit to Russia since assuming the presidency. This meeting signaled another major interaction in China-Russia relations, releasing multiple signals and being regarded as a journey to deepen friendship and pull together in times of trouble—a journey to remember history and open up the future—which has triggered enthusiastic responses in academic circles at home and abroad.
The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, as well as the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War; it is also the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Looking back at history, China and Russia, as the main Asian and European battlefields of World War II, made decisive contributions to winning the World Anti-Fascist War and forged a historical monument. At this critical juncture where history and reality intersect, President Xi Jinping’s trip to Russia not only injects strong impetus into the development of China-Russia relations but also sets a fine example for jointly safeguarding the achievements of the victory of WWII. As major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, no matter how the international situation changes, China and Russia will remain guardians of historical memory and companions in development and revitalization, injecting stability and positive energy into international relations. The efforts made by China and Russia, working hand-in-hand to promote a correct view of WWII history, are obvious to all and hold precious enlightening significance for building a peaceful world.
An Important Meeting at a Special Historical Juncture
Reviewing history and honoring the martyrs: the special timing of this visit is particularly noteworthy. The international academic community believes that the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War is a major event in Russian politics and diplomacy. The attendance of the Chinese leader at relevant activities is the best support for Russia and a vivid manifestation of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a New Era. Standing at a new starting point, as trustworthy good neighbors and true friends who share weal and woe, China and Russia uphold the spirit of good-neighborliness and friendship, leading bilateral relations toward an even more brilliant future.
"This is an important visit in a special year," Boris Guseletov, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told reporters. He noted that President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia carries multiple meanings. In particular, this trip coincides with important nodes such as the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. These events possess rich historical backgrounds and symbolic significance, serving as milestone events that influence international relations.
Guseletov stated that this meeting has attracted worldwide attention; its occurrence at a "special historical node" is particularly worth savoring. Attending the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow at the invitation of the Russian side is an important component of President Xi’s visit, and it is a proper expression of China and Russia’s mutual support in hosting commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. This is not only a form of respect in diplomatic etiquette but also sends a signal of the deepening of political mutual trust and strategic coordination between China and Russia.
Rodionov Alexey A., Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at Saint Petersburg University and a professor of Sinology, said in an interview that all sectors of Russian society attach great importance to President Xi Jinping's visit and hold many long-term expectations. "President Xi’s invitation to attend the Red Square military parade demonstrates the will and attempts of China and Russia to protect historical truth and oppose all efforts to rewrite history. This means that Russia and China will not allow the painful lessons of World War II to be repeated," Rodionov said.
"This face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state in 2025 reflects the leap in the strategic partnership between the two countries in recent years, marking a new chapter in bilateral interactions that will continue to lead China-Russia relations to 'climb high and look far' [1]," Guseletov reflected. This meeting is not only a key milestone in the history of China-Russia relations but also a major event on the global political stage. Against the backdrop of current world challenges such as economic sanctions, conflicts, and climate change, the meeting between the two leaders reflects a will to further strengthen coordination and cooperation.
Jointly Defending the View of WWII History
Taking history as a mirror to gain wisdom: looking across the long river of history, 80 years ago, the peoples of China and Russia made enormous sacrifices, fighting side-by-side and supporting each other, making historical contributions that will shine in the annals of history for the cause of world peace and human progress. Remembering the history of WWII, filled with suffering and blood, and defending the fruits of victory is essential for better maintaining the hard-won post-war international order.
On April 23, the photo exhibition "Unforgettable Memory—China and Russia (Soviet Union) Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the World Anti-Fascist War" was held in Moscow. With "Unforgettable Memory" as its theme, the exhibition focused on three chapters: "Memories of War," "Friendship Forged in Blood," and "Eternal Commemoration." A total of 80 precious photos were displayed, restoring and reproducing the historical memory of the two countries' bloody battles in the World Anti-Fascist War.
Guseletov stated that both China and Russia possess splendid civilizations, and both the Chinese and Russian nations are great nations carrying heavy histories. The friendship between China and Russia has a long history; they supported each other during the arduous years of war and forged a deep partnership. Both sides made enormous sacrifices in the World Anti-Fascist War. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people advanced wave upon wave, writing a great chapter in the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The Soviet Red Army also charged forward with iron-like will, crushing the Nazi aggressors and writing a magnificent epic of victory in the Great Patriotic War.
"That victory 80 years ago demonstrated the power of human conscience and spiritual solidarity. We commemorate the victory not only to honor the martyrs but also to draw experience and use history as a mirror to illuminate the path forward for humanity," Guseletov said.
Zhang Hong, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told reporters that this meeting reflects the shared vision of the two countries on the historical issues of WWII. Today's international order is facing multiple shocks related to the rise of unilateralism and hegemonism in the international community, which depart from the multilateral cooperative international order established after WWII. The original intention of China and Russia in commemorating history lies in maintaining the authority and status of the United Nations and defending multilateral international mechanisms.
"He who does not reflect on history will be blind to reality." Zhang Hong believes that defending a correct view of WWII history means maintaining multilateralism. The victory of WWII was the result of multilateral cooperation among people of different systems and beliefs; it promoted the liberation of people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America from the oppression of colonialism and imperialism, allowing them to embark on the journey of national liberation and peaceful development. Therefore, maintaining a correct view of WWII history is maintaining world peace and avoiding the repetition of the mistakes of a world war. Maintaining the historical achievements of WWII also means defending a correct view of the international order. The painful lessons of WWII proved that "the law of the jungle" [2] where the strong prey on the weak is not the way for human coexistence; pursuing power politics and hegemonism is not a strategy for peace. Some countries and politicians are subverting post-war historical issues, manipulating history, ethnicity, and religion, which is one of the important factors leading to the continuous escalation of geopolitical conflicts. Whether the Soviet Great Patriotic War or the Chinese War of Resistance, neither could have succeeded without the solidarity and support of the international community. Without the cooperation of the global anti-fascist alliance, there would have been no victory in WWII. The post-war institutional construction also proves that multilateral cooperation is not a temporary expedient for power games, but a "civilizational consciousness" formed by humanity after paying a heavy price.
"Erroneous Views of WWII History" Mislead Public Perception
Historical memory and truth do not fade with the passage of time; rather, they remain fresh. Currently, "noises" have appeared in the West that distort the historical truth of WWII and deny the achievements of the victory. Furthermore, the historical achievements of China and the Soviet Union in defeating fascist forces have been weakened or even distorted in Western narratives, and the selective memory of the West has misled public perception of history. Some scholars summarize this as "the theory of ignoring China" or "Western-centrism," among other "erroneous views of WWII history."
Zhang Hong believes that the "theory of ignoring China" and "Western-centrism" are rooted in post-war Western hegemonism. Such erroneous remarks attempt to exaggerate the contributions of the West while downplaying or even smearing China's contribution to the Asian theater of WWII. Currently, right-wing forces and parties in some countries are attempting to obscure and distort the history of WWII through various means, promoting racism and xenophobic ideologies. Some politicians do not hesitate to "apply powder and rouge" [3] to fascism to seize political interests. These erroneous thoughts not only lead to domestic political division but also cause damage to post-war open and pluralistic values.
Aleksandar Mitić, a researcher at the "Belt and Road Research Center" of the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Belgrade, Serbia, told reporters that China, Russia, and Serbia were all major forces against Nazism, fascism, and militarism in WWII and were key contributors to the victory. "Therefore, we not only have the full right to jointly celebrate this great victory but also have the obligation—for the sake of the victims, the heroes, and their descendants—to defend correct values and historical truth, and to resist any form of historical revisionism."
Mitić cited his own experience: "During my work in Western and Central Europe over the past twenty years, I have observed some worrying trends. In the European Parliament in Brussels, with the accession of new member states from Eastern and Central Europe, I have seen a tendency to attempt to downplay the Soviet Union's contribution to the anti-fascist war and try to equate fascism and communism as 'totalitarian ideologies.' Furthermore, I witnessed with my own eyes the dismantling of monuments to Soviet soldier-liberators in Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic. It is unacceptable that such important historical events are manipulated by geopolitics."
Li Xing, Director of the Center for European Studies at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, believes that in the Western-dominated information dissemination, academic research, and international discourse system formed after the Cold War, the historical contributions of China and the Soviet Union in WWII have been continuously marginalized, downplayed, or even distorted. Western "historical revisionism" is a naked tampering with history, constructing the meaning of WWII with false logic and politicizing and instrumentalizing history to serve contemporary geostrategic games. Against this background, China and Russia insist on maintaining the historical conclusions of international justice, such as those of the Nuremberg Trials and the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, and the two countries uphold the authority of international law and the global order of justice.
"People should not forget that the establishment of the post-war international order takes the United Nations as its core institution, and its legitimacy stems from the justice of the anti-fascist war and the contributions of participating countries. China and Russia cannot accept the West's one-sided interpretation of the history of WWII. This is not only about defending historical truth but even more about upholding national dignity and the legitimacy of the international order," Li Xing said.
Showing Responsibility as Responsible Major Powers
Coalescing strength and moving forward with determination: during this meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the exchange of more than 20 bilateral cooperation documents, covering fields such as global strategic stability, maintaining the authority of international law, biosafety, investment protection, the digital economy, quarantine, and film cooperation. In the future, China and Russia will strengthen coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, APEC, BRICS, and the G20, supporting the process of world multipolarization.
Zhang Hong stated that the joint statement issued by China and Russia on global strategic stability marks a new height in China-Russia strategic mutual trust. Since the end of the Cold War, the scale of economic and trade between the two countries has continued to expand, with the bilateral trade volume reaching a record high. The scope of cooperation has gradually expanded from commodity trade, industrial chain cooperation, and infrastructure to cooperation in internet e-commerce, service trade, and financial settlement, exploring new fields of cooperation such as expanding investment, science and technology, and the development and construction of the Arctic shipping route. In recent years, China-Russia cooperation has withstood the pressure of Western sanctions and maintained a vigorous development momentum in the alignment of the "Belt and Road Initiative" and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Guseletov believes that China and Russia share common interests in the fields of economy, security, and international politics. "In recent years, we have seen an increase in trade between the two countries, as well as an increase in cooperation projects in energy, high-tech, and infrastructure. Both countries oppose the unilateral actions of Western countries and emphasize the importance of a multipolar world, which also became a main topic of this visit. Bilateral cooperation also affects the political dynamics of Asia and the entire international stage. China-Russia relations profoundly influence the world pattern and the balance of power on the global political map. The importance of face-to-face meetings between leaders lies in the fact that, through this method, deeper connections and trust can be established, leading to new agreements and joint projects."
“Taking this meeting as an opportunity, both sides will not only strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS, but will also jointly shoulder their special responsibilities as major world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core. This responsibility is bestowed by the times and is a manifestation of China and Russia, as responsible major powers, stepping forward to shoulder their missions [4],” Guseletov further added.
The road to maintaining peace is long and arduous.
Crossing mountains and braving storms together [5]. Today, eighty years later, unilateralism, hegemonism, and bullying practices pose a profound threat. Humanity once again stands at a crossroads between unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win cooperation or zero-sum games. The world today has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation; against the backdrop of a complex international situation, Sino-Russian relations—as a stable, active, and progressive force in the international community—have injected a bright hue into the uncertainty of the external environment.
“History and reality fully prove that the continuous development and deepening of Sino-Russian relations is the inherent meaning of inheriting the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation; it is the inevitable choice for both sides to achieve mutual success and promote their respective development and revitalization; and it is the call of the times to defend international fairness and justice and promote the reform of the global governance system.” President Xi Jinping’s words, forceful and resonant, echo in the ears of the people of China and Russia.
“We are experiencing the era with the most conflicts since the end of World War II. If timely action is not taken, humanity will suffer further losses and pain,” Mitic lamented. “We must also seriously reflect on and examine the importance of maintaining an objective historical memory of World War II. Revisionist forces may rebound, but they must be defeated.”
Mitic believes that the historical memory of World War II serves both as a wake-up call and a harbinger of Sino-Russian determination. Concepts such as the proposition that “security is indivisible” and the opposition to the expansion and spread of military alliances are highly valued by China. The Global Security Initiative [6] proposed by President Xi Jinping is an important ideological contribution to promoting a win-win security pattern.
The road to maintaining peace is winding and difficult, and the burden is heavy. “China and Russia support multipolarity and true multilateralism, and always treat each other as equals for mutual benefit and win-win results. That Russia and China always walk side by side signifies hope for the dissolution of world hegemonic and imperialist forces; it also signifies a more harmonious, stable, and beautiful global home,” said Lyusha.
The Russian writer Leo Tolstoy wrote in War and Peace: “History is the biography of nations and humanity.” Light will surely dispel darkness, and justice will eventually triumph over evil. “China and Russia share a common vision for promoting the process of world multipolarity. Taking this summit as an opportunity, the vision and actions of China and Russia joining hands to safeguard fairness and justice in international relations are particularly precious,” Guseletov concluded.