Vyacheslav Volodin Praised Russia and China's Common Respect for the Memory of the Victory over Nazism

On August 26, Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, paid an official visit to the People's Republic of China.

In Beijing, Vyacheslav Volodin met with Xi Jinping, President of China. The Speaker of the State Duma passed on warm greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Chinese leader, and noted the strategic importance and successful development of Russian-Chinese relations under the leadership of the two heads of state.

Vyacheslav Volodin emphasized the outstanding contribution of the Soviet Union and the Chinese people to the victory over Nazism, stressing that this victory came at the cost of enormous sacrifices – 27 million Soviet lives and significant losses among the Chinese people.

"Today, the world is once again facing Nazism. That's why it's so important to remember the feats of our ancestors, honor the memory of the fallen, and work together to create a better future," Vyacheslav Volodin said.

He also praised China's commitment to preserving memorials honoring Soviet soldiers and stressed the need to strengthen interparliamentary dialogue and cooperation to implement decisions at the highest level.

The Chairman of the State Duma and the State Duma delegation laid a wreath and flowers at the memorial to Soviet liberator pilots in People's Square in Changchun, paying tribute to them with a minute of silence.

"The restored memorial, erected 80 years ago, serves as an example to many European countries that consider themselves more enlightened and capable of upholding certain values. The leaders of these countries are trampling on the graves of those who gave them the opportunity to live and make plans for the future," Vyacheslav Volodin said. "Those who don't respect history and the memory of the fallen are beyond hope, they have no future."

The monument in Changchun is a five-level obelisk 27.5 meters high, topped with a model of a diving bomber. The names of 23 Soviet servicemen of the Transbaikal Front who fell in battles in the city area in August-September 1945, are engraved on the monument.

On the front side of the obelisk, the inscription in Russian reads: "Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in battle for the honor and victory of the Soviet Union." In September 1959, an inscription in Chinese was added: "Eternal glory to the Soviet heroes. From all residents of Changchun."

As you may recall, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, currently chaired by Vyacheslav Volodin, has adopted five model acts aimed at protecting historical truth and combating Nazism.

China is a regular guest at the CSTO PA events, and Chinese officials have repeatedly participated in the Assembly's plenary sessions.