80 years ago, after 14 years of unyielding struggle, the Chinese people achieved a great victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. This marked the full victory of the global fight against fascism and brought peace back to the world. The war spread across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, causing over 100 million military and civilian casualties. In China alone, more than 35 million people were killed or injured. To remember history and prevent such tragedy from happening again is the best way to honour those who gave their lives for freedom, justice, and peace - and the innocent victims who suffered in the war.

China's victory shattered Japan’s attempt to colonise and enslave the nation, restored China’s status as a major power on the world stage, and earned the respect of peace-loving people around the globe. This historic triumph opened the path to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It also established a lasting truth: the dignity and development of a nation must be built on a foundation of independence and self-reliance.

Independence and self-reliance have enabled China to explore a development path that truly fits its national realities - the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. From being a poor, agriculture-based country at its founding, China has grown into the world’s second-largest economy. Its GDP has surpassed 120 trillion yuan, and its per capita income has reached the level of upper-middle-income countries. This transformation is widely seen as a miracle in the history of global development. China neither copied Western models nor clung to old traditions. Instead, it forged its own way forward - one that has achieved in just a few decades what took developed nations centuries. According to World Bank data, China has contributed more than 30 per cent to global economic growth for several consecutive years, becoming a key driver of the world economy.

With independence and self-reliance as a guiding principle, China has built the most complete industrial system in the world and made a historic leap from technological follower to global leader. It is the only country that covers all 41 industrial categories defined by the UN. In 2023, China’s manufacturing output accounted for about 30 per cent of the global total -  roughly equal to the combined output of the U.S., Germany, and Japan. From the industrial foundations laid during the First Five-Year Plan to the innovation-driven approach of the 14th, China has made major breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields such as 5G, high-speed rail, and quantum computing. As it moves from a manufacturing giant to an innovation powerhouse, China’s self-sufficient and resilient industrial system has become a key strength in facing external challenges.

Relying on independence and self-reliance, Chinese civilisation has continued to grow, adapt, and contribute uniquely to human progress. While safeguarding its cultural roots, China has actively promoted the creative transformation and innovative development of its traditional culture. Its 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites highlight a rich heritage, while cultural trends like the Hanfu revival, Spring Festival celebrations, and brands like POP MART are gaining international attention. Cultural works such as Black Myth: Wukong are showcasing the beauty of Eastern aesthetics to the world. President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilisation Initiative advocates mutual respect and dialogue between civilisations, offering a Chinese solution to outdated theories like the “clash of civilisations.” With greater cultural confidence, China is encouraging exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations, bringing new vitality to its 5,000-year-old heritage.

Through independence and self-reliance, China has remained firmly committed to a people-centered development philosophy and opened new chapters in human development. China has achieved a historic victory in eradicating absolute poverty, lifting nearly 100 million rural residents out of hardship - meeting the UN’s poverty reduction goals 10 years ahead of schedule. It now operates the world’s largest social security system, with basic medical coverage for over 1.3 billion people and a compulsory education completion rate of over 95 per cent. As it pursues high-quality development, China also emphasises harmony between humanity and nature, resulting in clear progress in environmental protection. On its path to modernization, China continues to place people at the heart of development - a testament to the strength and value of its socialist system.

History has witnessed the shared experiences of China and the Maldives - both of us have endured the suffering of colonial invasion, and both have achieved independence and self-reliance through unyielding struggle. These parallel journeys strengthen our belief that a nation's destiny must remain firmly in its own hands. As the Maldives' most important development partner, China respects and supports the Maldives in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions and firmly supports the Maldives in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity.

Now, standing at a new historical starting point, China is ready to work hand in hand with the Maldives to share the opportunities brought by Chinese modernisation, deepen the building of a China-Maldives community with a shared future, and jointly create a peaceful, secure, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly homeland for both our peoples.

(This article is authored by Chinese Ambassador to Maldives, H.E. Kong Xianhua)