Chinese leaders mark anti-Japanese war victory day

BEIJING, Sept. 3 -- Chinese leaders on Wednesday attended a ceremony to mark the 69th anniversary of the Victory Day in the Anti-Japanese War, the first time since the legislature ratified official observance of the day.

The ceremony, which was held in the morning at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and other leaders including Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli.

Ratified by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in February, Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is officially observed on Sept. 3 in China.

Presided over by Li Keqiang, leaders and other officials at the ceremony stood in silent tribute and presented flower baskets to martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the war. Doves were released after the ceremony.

Leaders and officials later visited an exhibition at the museum about the relationship between China and the world's anti-Fascist War.