Foreign troops take pride in attending China's V-Day parade

As China's Sept. 3 military parade commemorating the end of World War II (WWII) nears, foreign troops accepting Beijing's invitation to take part in the event all expressed their sense of honor.

China will hold a military parade at Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing on Sept. 3 to mark the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

It is the first time China commemorates the hard-fought war by a military parade, and also the first time foreign armies are invited to participate in China's parades.

Maskad Bayzhigitov, commander of the guard of honor of the three services of Kazakhstan's armed forces, which will show up during the parade, said participating in the parade is an honor for the Kazakh soldiers.

He said the date of Sept. 3 is a festival for both the Chinese and the Kazakh people "since our grandfathers' generation once fought hand in hand against Fascism."

"Every member of the guard of honor will present to the whole world the majesty and tenacity of the Kazakh army," Bayzhigitov said.

Jose Carlos Luna Loaeza, captain of the Secretariat of the Mexican Navy General Corps and commander of the naval and military contingent to China, said that he felt tremendously proud as this is the first time that a Mexican military contingent has ever been invited to take part in the parade.

The Mexican delegation is made up of 75 people, including a captain, three officers and 71 cadets from Mexico's naval school, military and air force colleges. Each school will be represented by an officer and a number of cadets.

"With this event, we want to help Mexico become a player with global responsibility," said Loaeza, adding that the trip will increase relations between the two armed forces and the two countries.

Galina Kulikova, first vice president of the Russia-China Friendship Association, earlier stressed the importance of the upcoming commemorative events, saying they are not only valuable lessons for the youngsters of Russia and China to remember the history and deepen the friendship between them but also a contribution to global peace.

"Russia and China, as two main forces fighting in WWII in the Western and Oriental battlefields, have come through great hardships and won the war with terrible loss of human lives," Kulikova said, adding that "the upcoming commemorative events in China mean that our countries stand against falsification of the results of WWII."

Russia's 154th Preobrazhensy Commandant's regiment, consisting of 85 members, will march through Tian'anmen Square during the parade and be reviewed by Chinese President Xi Jinping along with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to a military official, at least 10 countries, covering Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Americas, have decided to send military contingents and representatives to the parade.

Qu Rui, deputy chief of the Operations Department of the General Staff Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), told reporters during a press briefing Friday that foreign troops have already arrived in the parade training base in suburban Beijing and are training with their Chinese counterparts.

Foreign soldiers training in Beijing will be provided with buffet meals in both Chinese and western styles and free WiFi. Their dormitories are equipped with laundry rooms, phone booths, foreign exchange services as well as football fields and swimming pools. And buses are arranged for group outings, journalists were informed in Friday's briefing.