Mon, April 30, 2012
MOSCOW, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met here Saturday with Russian veterans of World War II, praising their contributions to world peace.
At the gathering ahead of Russia's Victory Day on May 9, Li said that the veterans made outstanding contributions to safeguarding world peace and human civilization.
Noting that all the veterans at the event participated in the anti-Japanese battles in northeastern China, Li said their action and blood helped win the final victory and consolidate the China-Russia friendship.
The peoples of the two countries will always remember the veterans' historic feats, and China will never forget those Russian soldiers who sacrificed themselves on the Chinese battlefield, he added.
Without the victory of the Anti-Fascist War, China and Russia would not have realized their development today, Li said, adding that the two neighbors will cherish the hard-won achievements, push forward their friendship, cooperation and development, and join hands to safeguard the world peace.
The veterans said that their stay in northeastern China had become unforgettable and beautiful memories and that the two countries need to work together to meet the challenges in today's world.
Li arrived here Thursday for an official visit at the invitation of the Russian government.
Russia is the first leg of Li's ongoing Europe trip, which will also take him to Hungary, Belgium and the European Union headquarters in Brussels.
