UN chief Ban Ki-moon defends trip to Beijing for WW2 anniversary parade

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has defended his trip to Beijing next week to watch a military parade marking the end of the second world war, following concern from Japan.

Thousands of Chinese troops will march through central Beijing on Thursday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the war’s end, overseen by Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Western leaders have mostly declined to attend, as has Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Ban pointed to the importance of learning from history amid concerns from Japan about his upcoming trip, the office of his spokesperson said on Friday.

“The secretary general believes that it is important to reflect on the past, look at the lessons we have learned and how we can move ahead to a brighter future based on these lessons,” the office said.

“That is why he is participating in the commemorative events in China, as he did at other ceremonies marking the end of the second world war in Poland, Ukraine and Russia,” the office said.

Xinhua cited Ban as saying to UN-based Chinese media: “China’s contribution and sacrifice during the second world war is very much recognised, [China is] appreciated for all such sufferings, and sympathised by the world’s people."