Xi’s Victory Day speech a ‘wake-up call’ for peace: Paul Chan

President Xi Jinping’s speech marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II serves as a “wake-up call”, Hong Kong’s finance chief has said, as he laid out how the city was bolstering its role as a superconnector amid geopolitical challenges.

Writing on his weekly blog on Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the Victory Day military parade in Beijing on Wednesday was a “testament” to China’s commitment to safeguarding peace through strength.

“President Xi Jinping’s important speech emphasised that humanity’s destiny is shared, and that only by treating each other as equals and coexisting in harmony can all countries and nations safeguard common security, eliminate the root causes of war, and prevent the recurrence of historical tragedies,” Chan said.

“This speech serves as a wake-up call in the current international landscape.”

Hong Kong will further enhance its role as a “superconnector” and “super value-adder,” while actively contributing to national development strategies, Chan said.

During his keynote speech at the Victory Day military parade last week, Xi stressed that China would stand on the right side of history, while proclaiming that the country’s rejuvenation was “unstoppable” and that the peaceful development of humanity would win out.

Flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and leaders from 26 countries, he said humanity was at a critical point and faced a “choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum.”