CRI听力:Chinese Leaders Mark Victory Day of WWII

China marked its World War II victory over Japan today (Wednesday) with a high-profile commemorative ceremony in Beijing attended by top Chinese leaders.

The commemoration is the first of its kind after Chinese authorities designated September 3rd as victory day earlier this year.

CRI's Yin Xiuqi has more details.

Chinese Leaders Mark Victory Day of War of Resistance against Japanese Invasion 

On Wednesday morning, a commemorative ceremony was held at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression in the south of Beijing.

The ceremony was attended by all seven of China's top leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Officials stood in silent tribute during the ceremony, which lasted for about 10 minutes.

Presided over by Li Keqiang, the leaders presented flower baskets in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the war.

A 14-gun salute sounded, symbolizing China's 14-year struggle against the Japanese invaders, from 1931 to 1945.

3,500 doves were released symbolizing the estimated 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians who were killed or wounded by Japanese troops.

Before the ceremony, Chinese leaders met with a group of veterans and relatives of martyrs.

Eighty-nine year old Zhao Yongtian, a veteran, recounts what he witnessed at the historic moment of the Japanese surrender 69 years ago.

"Japanese soldiers bent their heads in a remorseful manner at a surrender ceremony in Beijing. The city's common residents celebrated the victory by beating drums and setting off firecrackers."

Yu Tiejun, an expert on international studies at Peking University, says China's high-profile commemoration of the war carries international significance.

"Regarding the international relations, it's a very important year, especially with regard to the Sino-Japanese relations, which have not been very so good over the past several years. I really think it's important for the people to realize how important and cherishable of the current stability of East Asia. No matter how powerful a country, like imperial Japan, is doomed to be defeated if it invaded other countries."

Sino-Japanese relations have been strained since 2012 over a territorial dispute and Japan's mishandling of historic issues linked to World War II.

Neighboring countries, especially China, now suspect a right-leaning Japanese government may once travel the road of militarism.

Militarism within Japanese politics before World War II has been blamed on Japan's brutal aggression toward its Asian neighbors in the 1930s and 1940s.

For CRI, I'm Yin Xiuqi.