History as a Mirror, Unswervingly Committed to Rejuvenation

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. From May 7 to 10, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia at invitation and attended the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. He published a signed article in Rossiyskaya Gazeta titled "Taking History as a Mirror and Creating a Brighter Future Together." The article states: "We should take history as a mirror, draw wisdom and strength from the profound lessons of World War II and the great victory of the Anti-Fascist War, resolutely oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and jointly create an even brighter future for humanity."

今年，是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年。5月7日至10日，国家主席习近平应邀对俄罗斯进行国事访问并出席纪念苏联伟大卫国战争胜利80周年庆典，在《俄罗斯报》发表题为《以史为鉴 共创未来》的署名文章。文章指出：“我们要以史为鉴，从第二次世界大战的深刻教训和反法西斯战争的伟大胜利中汲取智慧和力量，坚决反对一切形式的霸权主义和强权政治，共同创造人类更加美好的未来。”

The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which took place in the 1930s and 1940s, was a decisive battle between justice and evil, light and darkness, progress and reaction. The brutal and savage fascist iron heel failed to destroy the enduring Chinese civilization, but instead ignited unprecedented awakening and endeavor in this ancient nation. The fourteen years of arduous War of Resistance, the immense sacrifices made, and the great spirit of resistance that rose from it remain brilliant and stirring after the baptism of time. Today, the sunshine of peace covers the land of China, and the dawn of national rejuvenation is ahead. The lessons written in blood must not be forgotten. We must earnestly draw experience and lessons from history to ensure that the giant ship of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation sails steadily and far.

发生在20世纪三四十年代的中国人民抗日战争和世界反法西斯战争，是正义和邪恶、光明和黑暗、进步和反动的大决战。野蛮残暴的法西斯铁蹄未能摧毁薪火相传的中华文明，却激发了这个古老民族前所未有的觉醒与奋进。十四载艰苦卓绝的抗日战争、付出的巨大牺牲以及升腾而起的伟大抗战精神历经岁月洗礼，依旧熠熠生辉、震人心魄。今天的中国，和平阳光普照大地，民族复兴曙光在前。血写的教训不能忘却，必须从历史中认真汲取经验和教训，确保中华民族伟大复兴号巨轮行稳致远。

A Dark Page: The Japanese War of Aggression Against China Brought Unprecedented Catastrophe to the Chinese Nation

黑暗一页：日本侵华战争给中华民族带来空前巨大的灾难

Since 1840, "almost all imperialist countries, big, medium, and small, have invaded our country." They unscrupulously launched one aggressive war after another, violating our sovereignty, seizing our territory, plundering our wealth, slaughtering our people, and destroying our culture, causing modern China to suffer humiliation upon humiliation, disaster upon disaster, and its modernization process to be interrupted repeatedly.

1840年以来，“全世界几乎一切大中小帝国主义国家都侵略过我国”。他们肆无忌惮地发动一场又一场侵略战争，侵我主权、割我领土、夺我财富、屠我民众、毁我文化，致使近代中国耻辱连着耻辱、灾难连着灾难，现代化进程一再被打断。

Among them, the Japanese War of Aggression Against China brought the heaviest disaster, the greatest losses, and the deepest suffering to the Chinese nation. In the 14 years from the September 18 Incident [1]1 The September 18 Incident (1931), also known as the Mukden Incident, where the Japanese army staged an explosion on a railway near Mukden (Shenyang) as a pretext to invade and occupy Northeast China. to the Japanese surrender, the claws of the aggressors trampled half of China's territory, and their iron hooves crushed over 930 cities, shattering the mountains and rivers of the Chinese land.

其中尤以日本侵华战争给中华民族带来的灾难最重、损失最大、苦难最深。从九一八事变到日本投降的14年间，侵略者的魔爪蹂躏了中国一半国土，铁蹄践踏了930余座城市，华夏大地山河破碎。

Japanese militarism carried out heinous fascist atrocities against the Chinese people. The aggressors frenziedly bombed cities and villages, wantonly massacred civilians, raped women, abused children, enslaved laborers, perpetrated the appalling Nanjing Massacre and countless village massacres, and conducted abhorrent biological and chemical warfare and live human experiments. During the 14-year War of Resistance, Chinese military and civilian casualties exceeded 35 million people, accounting for one-third of total casualties worldwide during World War II. The aggressors committed tens of thousands of civilian massacres, among which there were over 200 large-scale massacres killing more than a thousand people each. The murderous obsession became a hallmark of Japanese militarism's barbarity and darkness.

日本军国主义对中国人民实施骇人听闻的法西斯暴行。侵略者疯狂轰炸城市和村庄，肆意屠杀民众、蹂躏妇女、摧残儿童、奴役劳工，制造惨绝人寰的南京大屠杀和数不胜数的屠村惨案，进行令人发指的细菌战、化学战和人体活体试验。14年抗战期间，中国军民伤亡3500多万人，占整个二战期间各国伤亡人数总和的三分之一。侵略者杀害平民的血案数以万计，其中一次杀害千人以上的大规模屠杀血案即达200余起，嗜杀成性成为日本军国主义野蛮与黑暗的标志。

The Japanese aggressors crazily plundered and destroyed China's resources and wealth. Shanghai, the most concentrated city of Chinese industry, had about 3,000 factories and enterprises before the war, and over 2,200 were destroyed after the Battle of Songhu [2]2 The Battle of Songhu (also known as the Battle of Shanghai, 1937), a major battle in the early stages of the full-scale Sino-Japanese War.. About half of the industrial equipment in the triangle of Nanjing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou was destroyed. Whenever they occupied an area, the aggressors immediately seized airfields, railways, and mines, controlled enterprises, plundered properties, and appropriated large amounts of wealth in the occupied areas. They caused China direct economic losses of US$100 billion and indirect economic losses of US$500 billion. The aggressors implemented the policy of "burn all, kill all, loot all" [3]3 The Three Alls Policy (burn all, kill all, loot all), a scorched-earth policy employed by the Japanese military against Chinese resistance areas. in the anti-Japanese base areas, crazily grabbing grain and livestock from the people, causing extreme material difficulties for the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians. For instance, the Eighth Route Army in southern Shandong had to fight under conditions where "cadres and soldiers ate leaves, sweet potato vines, and peanut shells mixed with a little grain for half a year."

日本侵略者对中国资源财富进行疯狂掠夺、破坏。上海是中国工业最集中的城市，战前有各类工厂企业约3000家，淞沪会战后被毁2200多家，宁、沪、杭三角地带的工业设备约一半被毁。侵略者每侵占一个地区，就立即抢占机场、铁路、矿山，控制企业，掠夺财产，把侵占区的大量财富据为己有。给中国造成直接经济损失1000亿美元、间接经济损失5000亿美元。侵略者对我抗日根据地实施烧光、杀光、抢光的“三光”政策，疯狂抢夺人民群众的粮食和牲畜，使抗日军民物质困难达到极其严重的地步，如鲁南八路军不得不在“干部战士有半年吃树叶、地瓜秧、花生皮稀稀掺一点粮食的情况下进行作战”。

Wherever the Japanese aggressors went, they wantonly destroyed Chinese culture. They bombed schools, expelled students, persecuted teachers, forcing some universities and middle schools in North, Central, and South China to move inland. According to incomplete postwar statistics, wartime education suffered property losses of over US$2.37 billion, and over 2.253 million volumes of public library books were lost. The aggressors also used despicable means to plunder cultural relics and damage historical sites, causing enormous destruction and irreparable losses.

日本侵略者所到之处，肆意摧残中国文化。轰炸学校，驱逐学生，迫害教师，华北、华中、华南的部分大中学校被迫内迁。据战后不完全统计，战时教育事业遭受财产损失达23.7亿多美元，损失公藏图书225.3万余册。侵略者还以卑劣的手段掠夺文物、损毁古迹，造成巨大破坏与无可挽回的损失。

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Communist Party of China, representing the fundamental interests of the Chinese people, upheld national righteousness, shouldered historical responsibilities, fought on the front line of the War of Resistance, and played a backbone role in the national war of resistance. The picture shows soldiers of the Eighth Route Army cheering victory on a beacon tower of the inner Great Wall after capturing the Japanese stronghold of Dongtuanbao in Laiyuan County during the Hundred Regiments Offensive [4]4 The Hundred Regiments Offensive (1940), a large-scale campaign by the Eighth Route Army against Japanese forces in North China. in 1940. (File photo) Xinhua News Agency

抗日战争时期，代表着中国人民根本利益的中国共产党，秉持民族大义，肩负历史重任，一直战斗在抗日战争最前线，在全民族抗战中发挥了中流砥柱作用。图为1940年八路军在百团大战中攻克涞源县日军据点东团堡后，战士们在内长城烽火台上欢呼胜利（资料照片）。 新华社发

The war of aggression launched by Japanese militarism committed heinous crimes against humanity, against humaneness, and against civilization, bringing the Chinese nation to its most dangerous moment [5]5 A line from the Chinese national anthem ("March of the Volunteers"), originally written by Tian Han in 1935.. This tragic history, the Chinese people have never forgotten, dare not forget, and absolutely cannot forget.

日本军国主义发动的侵略战争，犯下了反人类、反人道、反文明的滔天罪行，使“中华民族到了最危险的时候”。这段惨痛的历史，中国人民不曾忘，不敢忘，也绝不能忘。

Eternal Monument: The Victory of the War of Resistance Opened Up the Bright Prospect of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation

丰碑不朽：抗战的胜利开辟了中华民族伟大复兴的光明前景

At the moment of national crisis, the Communist Party of China always regarded calling upon, leading, and uniting the entire people to fight together against Japan as its lofty mission. It fully played a vanguard and exemplary role, powerfully inspiring and motivating the people's enthusiasm and fighting will, winning the trust and support of the masses. Under the banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front [6]6 The Anti-Japanese National United Front (1937-1945), a second united front between the CPC and the Kuomintang to resist Japanese invasion. initiated by the CPC based on cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the sons and daughters of China fought for national survival, for national rejuvenation, and for human justice, ultimately achieving the great victory of the War of Resistance. This was the first complete victory in China's resistance against foreign invasion since modern times, greatly advanced the revolutionary process, and erected a glorious historical monument on the journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

在民族危亡时刻，中国共产党始终把号召、带领和团结全国人民共同抗战视为崇高的使命，充分发挥先锋和模范作用，强有力地感染和激励着全国人民的抗战热情和斗志，赢得人民群众的信赖与拥护。中华儿女在中国共产党倡导的以国共合作为基础的抗日民族统一战线旗帜下，为国家生存而战、为民族复兴而战、为人类正义而战，最终取得抗日战争的伟大胜利，这是近代以来中国抗击外敌入侵的第一次完全胜利，极大地推动了中国革命进程，矗立起中华民族伟大复兴征程上光荣的历史丰碑。

—The War of Resistance tempered our Party and brought it to maturity, forging a strong leadership force for realizing national rejuvenation

——抗日战争使我们党历经磨砺而成熟，为实现民族复兴锻造了坚强领导力量

During the War of Resistance, our Party established the guiding position of Mao Zedong Thought in the entire Party, formed the central leadership collective with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, established the Marxist ideological, political, and organizational lines, achieved unprecedented unity and cohesion of the whole Party ideologically, politically, and organizationally, and played a backbone role in ultimately winning the victory.

抗日战争时期，我们党确立毛泽东思想在全党的指导地位，形成以毛泽东同志为核心的中央领导集体，确立了马克思主义思想路线、政治路线和组织路线，实现了全党在思想上、政治上、组织上的空前团结和统一，为最终赢得胜利发挥了中流砥柱作用。

In this anti-aggression struggle, no matter how arduous conditions, how perilous the situation, or how brutal the war, our Party always persisted in resistance and opposed surrender, persisted in unity and opposed division, persisted in progress and opposed regression. With its political propositions and striving commitment, it firmly led the correct direction of the War of Resistance and won the trust and support of the broad masses. Through the Yan'an Rectification Movement [7]7 The Yan'an Rectification Movement (1942-1944), a Party-wide ideological and organizational reform campaign led by Mao Zedong., our Party strengthened Party building, making the Party steeled through tempering in leading national liberation and strengthening self-revolution, becoming a more mature Party after being forged in blood and fire, enabling the Chinese nation to grasp its destiny of rejuvenation in its own hands.

在这场反侵略斗争中，无论条件多么艰苦、形势多么险恶、战争多么残酷，我们党始终坚持抗战、反对投降，坚持团结、反对分裂，坚持进步、反对倒退，以自己的政治主张和奋斗担当，牢牢引领抗战的正确方向，赢得了广大人民群众的信任拥护。我们党通过延安整风，加强党的建设，使党在领导民族解放和加强自我革命中百炼成钢，成为一个历经血火淬炼而更加成熟的党，让中华民族把复兴的命运掌握在了自己手中。

—The War of Resistance aroused the great awakening of the entire Chinese people, rallying immense power for realizing national rejuvenation

——抗日战争唤起了全体国人大觉醒，为实现民族复兴凝聚了磅礴伟力

"The degree of awakening and unity of the Chinese people promoted by this war is unmatched by any great struggle of the Chinese people in the past hundred years." [8]8 Quotation from Mao Zedong's essay "On the Protracted War" (1938). Facing national crisis, the patriotic enthusiasm of the Chinese people burst forth like a volcano. Frontline soldiers fought bloody battles and bravely killed the enemy; workers and peasants joined the army, fought in the war, supported the front lines, and carried out various forms of anti-Japanese salvation struggles; intellectuals and patriotic youths bravely stood at the forefront of the times, using pens as guns or throwing aside the pen to join the army; college and high school students across the country took to the streets, denouncing the crimes of the Japanese invaders; patriots from all walks of life participated in the anti-Japanese resistance in different ways. "Workers, peasants, soldiers, students, and merchants, rise together to save the nation." [9]9 A line from the anti-Japanese song "Save the Nation" (also known as "Workers, Peasants, Soldiers, Students, and Merchants, Unite to Save the Nation"). It was this great national awakening that formed the powerful force that overwhelmed the enemy.

“这个战争促进中国人民的觉悟和团结的程度，是近百年来中国人民的一切伟大的斗争没有一次比得上的。”面对民族危亡，中国人民的爱国热情像火山一样迸发出来。前线战士浴血奋战、英勇杀敌；工人、农民参军参战支援前线，开展各种形式的抗日救国斗争；知识分子和爱国青年英勇地站在时代前列，以笔代枪或投笔从戎；全国大中学生走上街头，声讨日寇罪行；各界爱国人士以不同方式参加抗日。“工农兵学商，一起来救亡”，正是这种全民族大觉醒，凝结成陷敌于灭顶之灾的强大力量。

During the War of Resistance, social mobilization was so extensive, national unity so close, and mass enthusiasm so high. The progress of the Chinese people in spirit and organization was unprecedented. On July 7, 1939, writer Zhu Ziqing [10]10 Zhu Ziqing (1898-1948), a prominent modern Chinese writer and poet. wrote passionately: "Before, it was just a big piece of fertile land, a dead China like a sheet of loose sand; now it is a living China of flesh and blood... The new China grew up in blood and fire."

抗战期间，社会动员如此广泛，民族团结如此紧密，群众积极性如此高涨，中国人民在精神上、组织上的进步前所未有。1939年7月7日，作家朱自清激情洋溢地写道：“从前只是一大块沃土，一大盘散沙的死中国，现在是有血有肉的活中国了……新中国在血火中成长了。”

—The War of Resistance tempered a heroic people's army, providing solid strategic support for realizing national rejuvenation

——抗日战争锤炼了一支英雄人民军队，为实现民族复兴提供了坚实战略支撑

"Despite the golden armor worn through by constant battle, we shall not return until we have broken the Loulan." [11]11 A couplet from a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Wang Changling, expressing determination to conquer the Loulan kingdom (an ancient city-state in present-day Xinjiang). It is used metaphorically here to express resolve against the Japanese. Under the leadership of our Party, the Eighth Route Army, the New Fourth Army, and other anti-Japanese armed forces elevated guerrilla warfare to a strategic position. They extensively conducted ambushes, sabotage operations, mine warfare, tunnel warfare, and sparrow warfare in the enemy's rear. With the heroic spirit of "overwhelming all enemies and never yielding to them," they fought a desperate battle against the brutal invaders and became the unyielding backbone of the suffering China.

“黄沙百战穿金甲，不破楼兰终不还。”我们党领导八路军、新四军等抗日武装，把游击战提高到战略地位，在敌后广泛开展伏击战、破袭战、地雷战、地道战、麻雀战，以“压倒一切敌人，而决不被敌人所屈服”的英雄气概，与残暴的入侵者作决死的战斗，成为苦难中国屹立不倒的脊梁。

"The soldiers and the people are the foundation of victory." The anti-Japanese armed forces led by our Party were deeply rooted among the people and stood invincible. Wherever the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army went, they did mass work, mobilizing, organizing, and arming the local people. Guerrilla units sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, staging a war spectacle of "villages fighting on their own, individuals fighting on their own, fighting everywhere and at all times," activating the overall situation of the war and laying a solid foundation for victory. After the victory of the War of Resistance, relying on this tempered people's army, our Party and people defeated Chiang Kai-shek and liberated the whole country, and defeated the American imperialism armed to the teeth, achieving the great victory of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. History has proven and will continue to prove: the Chinese nation emerging from suffering and the Chinese people achieving liberation depend on a heroic people's army; the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the Chinese people's creation of a better life also cannot be separated from a heroic people's army.

“兵民是胜利之本”，我们党领导的抗日武装深深扎根人民群众之中，立于不败之地。八路军、新四军走到哪里，群众工作就做到哪里，哪里的群众就被发动和组织起来、武装起来，一支一支的游击队如雨后春笋般成立起来，演绎出“村自为战、人自为战、无处不战、无时不战”的战争奇观，盘活了抗战的“棋局”，为抗战胜利奠定了坚实基础。抗战胜利后，我们党和人民靠着这支千锤百炼的人民军队，一举“打倒蒋介石，解放全中国”以及打败武装到牙齿的美帝国主义，取得抗美援朝、保家卫国的伟大胜利。历史已经并将继续证明：中华民族走出苦难、中国人民实现解放，有赖于一支英雄的人民军队；中华民族实现伟大复兴、中国人民创造更加美好生活，同样离不开英雄的人民军队。

—The War of Resistance gave birth to and formed the great spirit of the War of Resistance, injecting a powerful spiritual impetus for realizing national rejuvenation

——抗日战争孕育形成了伟大抗战精神，为实现民族复兴注入了强大精神动力

The War of Resistance was not only the recovery of rivers and mountains, but also the reshaping of the national spirit. A group of anti-Japanese generals such as Yang Jingyu, Zhao Shangzhi, Zuo Quan, Peng Xuefeng, Tong Linge, Zhao Dengyu, Zhang Zizhong, and Dai Anlan, and many heroic groups such as the "Five Heroes of Langya Mountain" [12]12 The Five Heroes of Langya Mountain (1941), five Eighth Route Army soldiers who fought to the death and jumped off a cliff rather than be captured. of the Eighth Route Army, the "Liu Laozhuang Company" [13]13 The Liu Laozhuang Company (1943), a company of the New Fourth Army that fought to the last person against a much larger Japanese force. of the New Fourth Army, the eight female soldiers of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army [14]14 Eight female soldiers of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army who drowned themselves in a river in 1938 rather than surrender., and the "Eight Hundred Heroes" [15]15 The Eight Hundred Heroes (1937), a group of Kuomintang soldiers who defended a warehouse in Shanghai against Japanese forces, inspiring nationwide resistance. of the Kuomintang army, were outstanding representatives of tens of thousands of anti-Japanese soldiers. The sons and daughters of China swept away the decadence of a century, advanced under the enemy's gunfire, fought for national dignity, and showed the world the patriotic sentiment of "everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the country" [16]16 A proverb from the Ming-Qing scholar Gu Yanwu (1613-1682), meaning that every individual bears responsibility for the prosperity and decline of their country., the national integrity of facing death unflinchingly and preferring death to surrender, the heroic spirit of defying brute force and fighting to the bitter end, and the indomitable belief in certain victory, forming the great spirit of the War of Resistance and recasting the blood and soul of the Chinese nation. It was exactly this spirit that "suddenly surged up" at the critical moment. Although the iron hooves of the Japanese aggressors crossed the Great Wall, they could not cross the "spiritual Great Wall" of the Chinese people who faced death and fought to the end.

抗日战争不仅是山河的光复，更是民族精神的重塑。杨靖宇、赵尚志、左权、彭雪枫、佟麟阁、赵登禹、张自忠、戴安澜等一批抗日将领，八路军“狼牙山五壮士”、新四军“刘老庄连”、东北抗联八位女战士、国民党军“八百壮士”等众多英雄群体，是千千万万抗日将士的杰出代表。中华儿女一扫百年颓靡之态，冒着敌人的炮火前进，为民族尊严而战，向世界展示了天下兴亡、匹夫有责的爱国情怀，视死如归、宁死不屈的民族气节，不畏强暴、血战到底的英雄气概，百折不挠、坚忍不拔的必胜信念，形成了伟大的抗战精神，重铸了中华民族的血气精魂。正是这种精神在危急时刻“突然奋张起来”，日本侵略者的铁蹄虽跨过了长城，却无法跨过中国人民向死而生、抗战到底的“精神长城”。

On July 7, 1937, the Japanese invading army brazenly launched the Lugouqiao Incident (July 7 Incident) [17]17 The Marco Polo Bridge Incident (July 7, 1937), a clash near Beijing that triggered the full-scale Sino-Japanese War., and the local Chinese garrison rose up to resist, triggering the nationwide War of Resistance. The picture shows student representatives from the capital participating in the ceremony marking the 87th anniversary of the outbreak of the nationwide War of Resistance at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing on July 7, 2024. Photo by Xinhua reporter Li Xiang

1937年7月7日，日本侵略军悍然发动卢沟桥事变（七七事变），当地中国驻军奋起抵抗，全民族抗战由此爆发。图为2024年7月7日，首都学生代表参加在北京中国人民抗日战争纪念馆举行的纪念全民族抗战爆发87周年仪式。 新华社记者 李响/摄

The great spirit of the War of Resistance is the most precious spiritual wealth left to us by the War of Resistance, a powerful driving force for the Chinese nation to march toward the future and rejuvenation. For this war, if we cannot see the growth of the national spirit, we cannot see its great significance and value. Today, we are carrying out a great struggle with many new historical features, facing risks and challenges rarely seen in the world and in history. We likewise need heroes, and likewise cannot do without a robust spirit.

伟大抗战精神是抗日战争留给我们最宝贵的精神财富，是中华民族走向未来、走向复兴的强大动力。对于这场战争，如果看不到民族精神的生长，就无法看清其伟大意义和价值。今天，我们进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争，面对的风险挑战世所罕见、史所罕见，同样需要英雄，同样离不开雄健的精神。

—The victory of the War of Resistance established China's status as a major world power, creating positive external conditions for realizing national rejuvenation

——抗战胜利确立了中国的世界大国地位，为实现民族复兴营造了积极外部条件

From the Opium War to before the War of Resistance, China suffered oppression from the world powers. Not to mention playing an important role in international affairs, it did not even have the basic qualification for equal dialogue, nor could it gain respect.

从鸦片战争到抗日战争之前，中国饱受世界列强欺压，不要说在国际事务中发挥重要作用，就连起码的平等对话的资格都没有，也不可能得到尊重。

This situation fundamentally changed with the victory of the War of Resistance. China's War of Resistance made great contributions to the World Anti-Fascist War, China gained respect from the international community, and its international status rose accordingly. China initially abolished various privileges obtained by other countries through unequal treaties with China. As one of the four major powers, China directly participated in the formulation of the UN Charter, made great contributions to the establishment of the international order based on the United Nations, and naturally became a main founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the Security Council. The victory of the War of Resistance re-established China's status as a major world power and provided indispensable external conditions for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

这种状况到抗日战争胜利发生了根本改变。中国的抗日战争为世界反法西斯战争作出巨大贡献，中国获得国际社会的尊重，国际地位也随之提高。中国初步废除了各国根据对华不平等条约而获得的种种特权。中国作为四大国之一，直接参与了《联合国宪章》的制定，为建立以联合国为基础的国际秩序作出巨大贡献，理所当然地成为联合国的主要创始国和安理会常任理事国。抗日战争的胜利，重新确立了中国在世界上的大国地位，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供了不可或缺的外部条件。

Learning from History: Unswervingly Striving for the Great Cause of Building a Strong Country and National Rejuvenation

以史鉴今：坚定不移为推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业而奋斗

President Xi profoundly pointed out that history is a mirror that not only illuminates the present but also illuminates the future. Remembering history is not to perpetuate hatred, but to cherish peace and create a better future. We should draw wisdom and strength for progress from history, unite our efforts, tackle difficulties, and keep moving toward the glorious shore of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

习主席深刻指出，历史是一面镜子，它照亮现实，也照亮未来。铭记历史，不是为了延续仇恨，而是要珍视和平、开创未来。我们应从历史中汲取前行的智慧和力量，勠力同心、攻坚克难，向着中华民族伟大复兴的光辉彼岸不断前进。

It is necessary to comprehensively strengthen Party leadership and Party building. During the War of Resistance, the Party paid special attention to its own construction and advanced it as a "great project" [18]18 Mao Zedong's characterization of Party building as a "great project" in his 1939 speech "Introducing the Communist.", making the Party further mature politically, playing a vanguard role in the torrent of the whole nation's war of resistance, supporting the hope of the whole nation's salvation from extinction, and becoming the backbone of persisting in the protracted war and winning the victory.

必须全面加强党的领导和党的建设。抗战时期，党特别注重自身建设，并将它作为一项“伟大工程”推进，使党在政治上进一步成熟，在这场全民族抗战的洪流中发挥了先锋队作用，支撑起全民族救亡图存的希望，成为坚持持久抗战、夺取抗战胜利的中流砥柱。

To continuously open up new prospects for national rejuvenation, it is urgent to forge the Party stronger and more powerful under new historical conditions. The cause of rejuvenation is long and arduous, posing severe tests for the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and solving the unique problems of a large party. It places new demands on the Party's creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness, and higher requirements for the Party's ability to handle complex situations and respond to risks and challenges. To advance the new great project of Party building in the New Era in depth, we must focus on Party political building, consolidate the organizational system for long-term governance, cultivate a high-quality and professional cadre force that is loyal, clean, and responsible, and make the Party increasingly pure and strong. We must always maintain the sober and steadfast awareness of "being on a test" [19]19 An allusion to Mao Zedong's metaphor in March 1949 that entering Beijing to take power was like sitting an examination, and the Party must always pass the test of governance., unswervingly rectify work style, enforce discipline, and combat corruption, ensuring that the Party always stays at the forefront of the times and becomes the strong leading core of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

不断开创民族复兴的新局面，迫切需要在新的历史条件下把党锻造得更为坚强有力。复兴伟业道阻且长，对党全面从严治党、解决大党独有难题提出了严峻考验，对党的创造力、凝聚力、战斗力提出了新的要求，对党驾驭复杂局势、应对风险挑战提出了更高要求。纵深推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，要突出抓好党的政治建设，筑牢长期执政的组织体系，造就忠诚干净担当的高素质专业化干部队伍，使党越来越纯洁、越来越强大。时刻保持“赶考”的清醒坚定，持之以恒正风肃纪反腐，确保党始终走在时代前列，成为中华民族伟大复兴的坚强领导核心。

It is necessary to always adhere to the people-centered principle. The victory of the War of Resistance fully demonstrated the indestructible and mighty power of the Chinese people, fully showing that the people are the creators of history, true heroes, the deepest source of strength for victory, and the fundamental force determining the future and destiny of the Party and the country.

必须始终坚持以人民为中心。抗日战争的胜利充分显示中国人民坚不可摧的磅礴力量，充分表明人民是历史的创造者、真正的英雄，是战争胜利最深厚的伟力，是决定党和国家前途命运的根本力量。

"The country is the people, and the people are the country." [20]20 A statement by Xi Jinping expressing the idea that the people are the foundation and ultimate purpose of the state. Our Party has made revolution, carried out construction, and pursued reform for the single purpose of enabling the people to live a happy life. On the new journey, the people are the greatest support and ultimate beneficiaries of national rejuvenation. As long as we have the support and participation of the people, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome. To practice the people-centered development thinking, we must first firmly believe in always trusting the people, stimulating their endless creativity, and relying on them to create historical feats. The people's aspiration for a better life is our goal of struggle. We must forever maintain a pure heart for the people, place people's interests in the supreme position, think and work together with the people, share weal and woe, share salt when it is abundant and plain when it is scarce, and continuously turn the people's aspiration for a better life into reality.

江山就是人民，人民就是江山。我们党干革命、搞建设、抓改革，都是为了让人民过上幸福生活。新征程上，人民是实现民族复兴的最大依靠和最终受惠者。只要有人民群众的支持和参与，就没有攻克不了的难关。践行以人民为中心的发展思想，首先要坚定一条信念，就是要始终相信人民群众，激发人民群众无穷的创造力，依靠人民群众创造历史伟业。人民对美好生活的向往，就是我们的奋斗目标。永远保持对人民的赤子之心，把人民利益摆在至高无上的地位，同人民想在一起、干在一起，有福同享、有难同当，有盐同咸、无盐同淡，不断把人民对美好生活的向往变为现实。

It is necessary to comprehensively improve the strategic capability to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. After modern times, the nation endured humiliation, the people suffered, and the civilization was tarnished, a lesson not far away. The historical experience of the victory of the War of Resistance once again warns people: the ability to fight is the prerequisite for stopping war; for a country to truly emerge from the shadow of war, it must possess the strategic capability to use military force to end conflict [21]21 A classical Chinese idiom, literally meaning "stop the military, become civil," but conventionally interpreted as "use military force to end war.".

必须全面提高捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益战略能力。近代以后，国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘殷鉴不远。抗战胜利的历史经验再次告诫人们：能战方能止战，一个国家要真正走出战争的阴霾，就必须具备止戈为武的战略能力。

In today's world, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, the international situation is complex and severe, and our country faces increasing uncertainties and unpredictable factors in its external security environment; domestically, reform, development, and stability also face many deep-seated contradictions. These all pose new challenges to maintaining national security. As the ultimate means to guarantee the realization of the great dream, military means must be able to be deployed, engage, and win when the Party and the people need them. On the new journey, only by accurately grasping the new characteristics of the national security strategic needs in the New Era, consolidating and improving the integrated national strategic system and capability, and making military struggle preparations thorough and solid, can national security be assured and national rejuvenation be confident.

当今世界，百年变局加速演进，国际形势复杂严峻，我国面临的外部安全环境不确定难预料因素增多；国内改革发展稳定也面临不少深层次矛盾，这些都对维护国家安全提出新的挑战。军事手段作为实现伟大梦想的保底手段，必须在党和人民需要时拉得出、上得去、打得赢。新征程上，只有准确把握新时代国家安全战略需求的新特点，巩固提高一体化国家战略体系和能力，把军事斗争准备抓得又紧又实，国家安全才有底数，民族复兴才有底气。

It is necessary to firmly advance the cause of human peace and justice. War is a mirror that allows people to better understand the preciousness of peace. At present, the world once again stands at a crossroads of history. The haze of Cold War mentality and power politics lingers, and unilateralism, hegemonism, and bullying run rampant. The world is not peaceful; peace needs to be safeguarded, and justice needs to be upheld.

必须坚定推进人类和平正义事业。战争是一面镜子，能够让人更好认识和平的珍贵。当前，世界又一次站在历史的十字路口，冷战思维和强权政治阴霾不散，单边主义、霸权霸道霸凌肆意横行。天下并不太平，和平需要保卫，正义需要捍卫。

Building a peaceful, stable, and secure world is the strong desire of people of all countries, the common responsibility of all countries, and the correct direction of the development of the times. Taking history as a mirror, countries around the world should unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, uphold the correct view of World War II history, resolutely defend the achievements of the World Anti-Fascist War, resolutely uphold the post-war international order, and firmly uphold international fairness and justice. We should follow the trend of the times, adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, join hands to build a new type of international relations based on win-win cooperation, jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, let the torch of peace be passed on from generation to generation, let the driving force of development be continuous, and let the light of civilization shine brightly.

建设一个和平、稳定、安全的世界，是各国人民的强烈愿望，是世界各国的共同责任，更是时代发展的正确方向。以史为鉴，世界各国应坚定不移走和平发展道路，坚持正确二战史观，坚决捍卫世界反法西斯战争胜利成果，坚决维护战后国际秩序，坚定捍卫国际公平正义。要顺应时代潮流，坚持遵守联合国宪章宗旨和原则，携手构建以合作共赢为核心的新型国际关系，共同推动构建人类命运共同体，让和平的薪火代代相传，让发展的动力源源不断，让文明的光芒熠熠生辉。

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心