The great peace wall

Second world war veterans from China and around the world and their guests look at the Beijing Peace Wall in Chaoyang Park during its inauguration yesterday, the 60th anniversary of the end of the war.

The veterans also put their names to a declaration of their commitment to peace: 'Sixty years ago, we underwent a world war as army men. Today, 60 years later, we survivors are the last witnesses of that war. For a better tomorrow for future generations, we seriously urge them to love life and cherish peace.'

The site will eventually have 16 walls inscribed in Chinese, English, Russian, French and Spanish.