NEW YORK -- Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed his country's contributions to the victory against fascism in World War II in a speech at the United Nations on Monday, making a case for China's leadership in the international order.
China "made a national sacrifice of more than 35 million casualties" in its fight against Japanese militarism, Xi told the U.N. General Assembly here.
But "remembering history does not mean being obsessed with the past," he also said. "Rather, in doing so, we aim to create a better future."
China "will never pursue hegemony," Xi declared. Civilizations must respect each other's differences, he argued, sending an implicit message to the U.S. not to interfere in China's maritime and internal affairs.
Xi also sought to draw a line between China and advanced economies. China's vote at the U.N. "will always belong to the developing countries," the Chinese president said. When it comes to fighting climate change, China urges "developed countries to fulfill their historical responsibility," reduce emissions, and help developing countries do their part, he said.
