To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the victory of Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese Aggression and the worldwide war against Fascism, Consul General Zhong Jianhua of the People's Republic of China in Los Angeles hosted a reception at the Consulate General in Los Angeles on August 8th, 2005. About 300 guests including Ms. Lourdes Saab, Deputy Chief of Protocol, County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, Mayor Frank Venti and Council Member David Lau of the City of Monterey Park, leaders of the Chinese Community in Southern California, representatives of Chinese companies and students in Los Angeles have all gathered here at the Chinese Consulate.

Consul General Zhong Jianhua said in his remarks that 60 years ago, the Fascists launched an unprecedented large scale of war of aggression, engulfing over 2 billion people from 60 countries and regions around the world, including China and the United States. During that bitterly fought war between justice and evil, peace-loving countries and people around the world have united to fight with blood and life for human dignity and world peace. China's war of resistance against Japanese Aggression was part and parcel of the war against Fascism in the world and the main battleground in the Far East. During the eight long years of resistant war against Japanese invaders, the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, have fought with tremendous unity and prowess and suffered great sacrifices and heavy losses. China's military and civilian casualty was estimated at more than 35 million with an economic loss of 100 billion US dollars. The overseas Chinese community has also made tremendous sacrifices and contributions during the war.

Ms Lourdes Saab of County of Los Angeles with Consul General Zhong and Mrs Zhong

Mayor Venti and Council Member David Lau with Consul General Zhong

Consul General Zhong stressed out that the past not forgotten is a guide for the future and this is the attitude that we should have towards historical tragedies. Only by engraving the bitter and painful history in the heart and drawing in-depth lessons from the past, can the historical tragedy be prevented from being replayed. He mentioned that, recently, there had been a number of seminars, concerts and exhibitions organized by the local Chinese community in commemoration of the victory of China's war of resistance against Japanese Aggression and the worldwide war against Fascism, which have all achieved great success. He pointed out that the reason that we have gathered here to mark the 60th Anniversary of the victory of the war of resistance against Japanese Aggression and the war against Fascisms is to remember those who have sacrificed their lives against Fascism, to express our sincere wishes and heartfelt confidence for world peace, and to remind all that we should never forget the disaster of the war brought against the Chinese and people around the world, we should cherish the hard-fought peace and stability we now enjoy, and cherish the friendship between Chinese and American people that was forged by fighting hand in hand with great sacrifice during the war against Fascists.

Consul General Zhong said that war and aggression lead to disaster, and peace and development lead to prosperity. China is determined to pursue the road of peaceful development and it looks forward to working with people around the world to make continuous effort in maintaining world peace and promoting joint development for all humankind.