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China to honor its World War II veterans
China unveiled plans Tuesday to honor its World War II veterans with gala celebrations and renewed its call for Japan to take more responsibility for wartime atrocities, the Associated Press reported. Planned festivities include a wreath-laying ceremony with 10,000 people Saturday on Tiananmen Square in central Beijing. Japan's prime minister apologized for wartime aggression on Aug. 15, the 60th anniversary of Tokyo's surrender in 1945. But "we think the Japanese government should translate this type of statement into action," said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Lu Xinhua. "Due to the actions of Japanese leaders in recent years, we have had some difficulties in China-Japan relations," Lu said at a news conference, citing Japanese leaders' repeated visits to a Tokyo war shrine and schoolbooks that critics say gloss over Tokyo's war record. But officials Tuesday said China wouldn't use its war commemorations to drum up anti-Japan sentiment. "We celebrate with patriotism, not with narrow nationalism," said Wang Guoqing, vice minister of the Chinese Cabinet's press office. Among China's planned festivities is a gala Friday night at the Great Hall of the People. On Saturday, President Hu Jintao will present medals to hundreds of war veterans from China and its wartime allies. Guests have been invited from 20 countries including the United States, Canada, Russia, Ukraine and both Koreas. Veterans from Taiwan will also be on hand, officials said.
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