Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon!

Today, we gather here at the UN Headquarters to unveil the photo exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trial. On behalf of the Permanent Mission of China, a warm welcome to you all, and my heartfelt thanks for your longstanding support for peace and justice.

Eighty years ago, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East opened in Tokyo. In the span of two years and seven months, judges from 11 countries held 818 court sessions, producing over 48,000 pages of trial transcripts and a judgment of over 1,200 pages. Based on the solid evidence and due process of law, the verdict established that Japan’s atrocities from the September 18th Incident in 1931 to the Pacific War constitute aggression. The trial records exposed appalling crimes of Japanese militarism. All 25 Japanese Class-A war criminals were convicted guilty, setting a legal precedent for bringing individuals to justice for crimes of war and aggression.

The Tokyo Trial cements the post-war world order, upholds fairness and justice, and advances international rule of law. It is a landmark victory of peace over war, civilization over barbarism, and justice over evil, with far-reaching political and historical significance. This exhibition brings together photographs and archives that present the true story of the Tokyo Trial. It is a solemn reminder to the world: aggression must not be whitewashed, war crimes must not be forgotten, and history must not be distorted.

The Tokyo Trial put Japanese militarism in the dock. It’s essential for Japan to bear in mind what is at the core of the Trial, make a clean break with militarism, and commit itself to peace once and for all. Regrettably, right-wing forces in Japan keep questioning the legitimacy of the Tokyo Trial under various pretexts, and try to gloss over its history of aggression. From worshiping Class-A war criminals to hollowing out the pacifist Constitution, from easing controls on arms exports to lifting the ban on the right to collective self-defense, Japan is going further away from the Tokyo Trial and tearing up its “pacifist” rulebook.

History, if not forgotten, can serve as a guide for the future. We call on all parties to carry forward the spirit of the Tokyo Trial, and keep in mind the opening words of the UN Charter—“to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” We need to guard against rising neo-militarism, and together uphold the post-war order and international peace and security.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year also marks the 55th anniversary of restoring China’s lawful seat in the UN. On October 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly at its 26th Session adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. It decides to restore all the rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the sole legitimate representatives of China to the UN.

Over the past 55 years, China has upheld the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and actively participated in and supported the work of the UN. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China is committed to world peace and security, honors responsibilities with actions, facilitates talks for peace, and advances political settlement of hotspot issues. We play an active role in formulating and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Following a people-centered approach to development, we apply the principle of universality in the context of our national realities, and work tirelessly for progress in human rights protection in China and beyond.

In recent years, President Xi Jinping has put forward four global initiatives, on development, security, civilization and governance, respectively. They are warmly received and supported by a growing number of countries. And all have been translated into broad consensus on multilateral cooperation and delivered concrete benefits. These are China’s contributions towards strengthening the three pillars of the UN, tackling global challenges, and enhancing global governance.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Images can document history, but they cannot replace our reflection on history. Commemoration finds its meaning in what we do next. Let’s work together at the UN for multilateralism and for peace and justice for humanity.

Thank you.