Japan criticized for protest over UN chief's visit to Beijing
Updated: 2015-09-01 18:53
By ZHANG YUNBI(chinadaily.com.cn)
|
||||||||
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets the press at the UN headquarters August 28, 2015. Ban has highly commented on China's contribution to and sacrifice in World War II (WWII), shortly before China's Sept 3 parade to mark the 70th anniversary of its victory in the Anti-Japanese War. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Beijing said on Tuesday that Japan's latest complaints over United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's upcoming visit to China for V-Day commemorations are "completely making trouble out of nothing" as the UN chief said it is very important for the world community to learn from the past and move forward.
Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said on Monday that Japan had complained to the UN over Ban's plan, which includes attending a parade on Sept 3, AFP reported.
Suga said: "We want to encourage member countries to look to the future and not to unnecessarily focus on particular events in the past".
In a response, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, told a daily press briefing in New York on Monday afternoon that: "...the Secretary‑General's thinking behind attending the ceremony in Beijing is that he's attended ceremonies in Ukraine, in Poland, as well as in Moscow."
Asked about his response to Japan's concern over his upcoming China visit, Ban told reporters that "the whole world is now commemorating the 70th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War, the most tragic in the history of human beings and at the same time the founding of the United Nations."
"It's important to look to the past, what kinds of lessons we have been learning, and how we can move ahead to a brighter future based on the lessons learned. That is the main purpose," Xinhua news agency quoted Ban as saying.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday that Beijing has already taken note of the relevant reports and the clear position outlined by the UN.
"At such a moment when the international community is marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of the world's Anti-Fascist War in various forms, the relevant comments by Japan are completely making trouble out of nothing," Hua said.
Japan is expected to "take a humble attitude, face the past squarely and express deep remorse over the militarist history of aggression", Hua said.
The spokeswoman reiterated that the events are being held by the Chinese government on Sept 3 in order to "remember history, recall the martyrs, cherish peace and open up to the future".
- Robotic exhibition set to kick off in Shenyang
- Eat from a paper hotpot
- 8 interesting facts about the upcoming V-day Parade
- Top 10 economies by growth rate among G20
- Happy faces in Tibet
- Historic images of military parades
- Top 10 wealthiest Chinese in the world in 2015
- Models heat up Xinjiang desert with Atlas silk
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Seventh China-US strategic dialogue |
Premier Li embarks on Latin America visit |
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Today's Top News
Senior US official to visit China on bilateral issues
China manufacturing PMI falls to 49.7 in August
Second homes in China need lower down payment
Xi meets with former KMT chairman
Chinese athletes win 9 medals at Beijing world championships
Houston physicist invited to view V-Day parade in Beijing
It's a boy! DC panda thriving
Journalist, securities regulatory official held for stock market violation
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |