Foreign war heroes to attend China's V-Day parade

BEIJING - Dozens of foreigners acclaimed in China for their contribution during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression will attend the country's V-Day celebrations on Sept 3, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming revealed on Tuesday.

The group of over 100 foreign VIPs will include relatives of these wartime heroes from 15 nations, Zhang said.

Among them are veterans of the "Flying Tigers," the nickname given to the American Volunteer Group, the air corps that fought alongside the Chinese during WWII, and the Japanese veterans who served in the Eighth Route Army, an anti-Japanese force.

Relatives of Canadian doctor Norman Bethune, who died saving Chinese soldiers during the Anti-Japanese War in the 1930s, as well as foreign nationals who helped save Chinese people in the Nanjing Massacre, are also among the attendees, according to Zhang.

He said China sent invitations to many more foreigners who made contributions or sacrifices in the war, but most of them are unable to attend due to old age.

The Sept 3 events, including a military parade, will be held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the end of World War II.