"We should learn our lessons from history, jointly address security challenges, and make concerted efforts to promote prosperity and development in Asia, so that the peoples of Asia and the rest of the world can enjoy a happy life, basking in the sunshine of peace," said Han, who added that the Chinese people, who have made tremendous sacrifices, will unswervingly defend the history written with our blood and lives.

Han said that China, along with most nations in Asia, maintains a good reputation of striving for peace, but that the country's aspirations have been challenged by various traditional and non-traditional security threats.

Japan, one of the aggressors in World War II, is now governed by leaders who are attempting to justify their country's history of aggression by challenging other countries' hard-earned victory in World War II and the post-war international order, according to the CPAPD leader.

In his International Day of Peace video message, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged the progress made in the search for world peace, but cautioned that much still remains to be done.

"We must douse the fires of extremism and tackle the root causes of conflicts," said Ban, whose message clearly pointed toward the malignant Islamic State, an organization notorious for terrorism and religious extremism.

The U.N. chief called on combatants to put down their arms so that all the people of the world can breathe the air of peace and security which forms the foundations of social progress and sustainable development.

Related

• China's 'ray of sunshine' for poor areas worldwide

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)