Wartime atrocities still fresh in memory, President Xi Jinping says in Berlin
Xi says in Berlin that China must build up defences, while stressing desire for peace
President Xi Jinping said during his visit to Germany that Japanese atrocities during the second world war were still "fresh in the memory" in China and that the nation needed to build its defences to safeguard against aggression.
In a speech in Berlin, Xi also reiterated that China's rise posed no threat to the world and that it was committed to creating friendly partnerships with its neighbours.
His comments came after an earlier speech in France during the president's European tour in which Xi compared China to an "awakened lion" which he said was "peaceful, pleasant and civilised".
In his speech in the German capital, Xi also said China was no Mephisto, a fictional demon character in German literature.
"Some view China through coloured glasses and believe it will inevitably become a threat and even portray China as being the terrifying Mephisto who will someday suck the soul of the world," he said.
These opinions, he said, highlighted deep prejudices against China.
Xi mentioned Japanese aggression twice in his speech and said China understood the importance of peace.