Editor's note: Fan Peng, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a research fellow at the Institute of Political Science of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Eighty years ago, in the World Anti-Fascist War that bore on the future of mankind, the Chinese people stood shoulder to shoulder with peace-loving people across the world to resist aggression. With iron resolve and immense sacrifice, they brought about the historic defeat of fascism and won a great victory for justice and peace.

This victory not only profoundly reshaped the international landscape, but also greatly advanced the course of the Chinese nation's independence and liberation, marking a pivotal turning point on China's path to rejuvenation. It also revealed an eternal truth: Justice will ultimately prevail over might, peace will prevail over war and the people will prevail over oppression.

World War II (WWII) was the most devastating war in human history. It caused more than 100 million military and civilian casualties, drove hundreds of millions away from their homes and left the world torn by the flames of war. On the Chinese battlefield, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression lasted 14 years and exacted a grievous toll of over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties.

The victory in the global war against fascism, in other words, was won at a painful price borne by all mankind. That victory not only marked the downfall of fascism; it also laid the foundation for the post-war international order. The United Nations came into being, and the Charter of the UN set out new principles for international relations with peace, cooperation and development at their core.

The most profound lesson of that war, which later crystallized into a basic consensus of the international community, was this: Only through solidarity and cooperation can peace and tranquility be safeguarded; only through mutual benefit and win-win outcomes can human progress be advanced. To forget history is to betray it; to deny history is to risk repeating its tragedies.

The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Geopolitical rivalry is intensifying, while unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise. Hegemonism and cold-war mentality have resurfaced. The crisis in Ukraine continues without resolution, conflicts have flared up in the Middle East and wars and unrest are breaking out in many parts of the world. Military confrontation, political standoffs and even religious and cultural clashes long absent from the international scene have once again emerged, casting new shadows over the global order.

At the same time, extremism, populism and right-wing politics are gaining ground in some countries, while the logic of zero-sum games and bloc confrontation is being deliberately amplified. The U.S. has launched a new round of trade wars and is pursuing "supply chain decoupling," attempting to reshape the international order with a self-centered, isolationist and conservative mindset. Such actions not only run counter to the laws of economics but also erode the very foundations of global cooperation.

Meanwhile, global challenges such as the widening digital divide, development imbalance and climate change are becoming ever more acute. The world once again stands at a crossroads. Will it move toward cooperation and mutual benefit, or fall into division and confrontation?

The complexity and gravity of the present moment remind us that the bitter lessons of WWII must never be forgotten, and the path of peaceful development must not be deviated from. To commemorate victory is, at its heart, to learn from history and open up the future. Though the smoke of gunfire has cleared, the shadow of war still surfaces in today's international landscape.

To safeguard hard-won peace, the international community must value all the more the gains of victory in WWII and resolutely uphold international fairness and justice. Everyone must carry forward the spirit of solidarity and cooperation. The victory in that war was forged by the united struggle of the people of all countries, and today we likewise need to work together to meet global challenges. We should remain committed to the path of peaceful development. Expansionism and hegemony only breed fresh turmoil, while only common, universal and sustainable security points the way to long-term peace for mankind.

Above all, all countries must practice genuine multilateralism, firmly opposing its instrumentalization and selectivity in its use and preventing it from being reduced to a tool serving the interests of a few.

The torch of peace and development must be passed on from generation to generation. Only by turning responsibility into concrete action can we ensure that tragedy never repeats itself and that mankind can move toward a brighter future.

Eighty years ago, the Chinese people made enormous sacrifices in the world war against fascism. Eight decades on, there is a deeper understanding that mankind is bound by a shared future and that no country can remain immune from the challenges of our times.

Building a community with a shared future for humanity is an important vision China has proposed based on historical experience and present-day responsibilities. It transcends the state-centrism of traditional international relations and highlights a value orientation that gives primacy to the common interests of mankind. This is both China's historical choice and its contemporary commitment, and it is also the shared path for all countries in the world to overcome difficulties and achieve win-win outcomes.

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