A reception themed "Remembering History, Safeguarding Peace" has been held to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The commemorative event, held on Wednesday at the Chinese embassy in Japan, brought together over 300 participants, including representatives from more than 30 Japanese peace and friendship organizations, to remember history, honor the fallen heroes, cherish peace, and create a better future.

Before the reception started, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao extended warm greetings to the Japanese veterans of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and family representatives of deceased war heroes.

Wu said in his speech that the Japanese militarism launched its war of aggression and committed brutal crimes against the people of China and other Asian countries, causing severe disasters, and the Japanese people also suffered greatly.

The responsibility for the war lies with a small group of militarists, not with the Japanese people, Wu noted, adding China is willing to work with the peace-loving Japanese people to learn from history, look to the future, resolutely fight against all wrong words and deeds that distort, glorify or deny the history of aggression, and jointly uphold the truth of history and pass on the torch of peace from generation to generation.

Ryoichi Hattori, secretary-general of Japan's Social Democratic Party, delivered a speech on behalf of its party leader Mizuho Fukushima.