Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of Russia's State Duma, paid solemn tribute to Soviet soldiers who fought in northeast China during World War II during a visit to Changchun on Thursday. The senior Russian official laid a wreath at the 27.5-meter Monument to Soviet Liberating Pilots in People's Square, where 23 names of fallen servicemen from the Transbaikal Front are engraved.
The granite obelisk, crowned with a bronze dive bomber model, commemorates sacrifices made between August and September 1945 when Soviet forces helped liberate northeast China from Japanese occupation. Volodin observed a minute of silence before praising China's preservation of historical sites: 'These memorials stand as eternal witnesses to our shared struggle against fascism.'
The visit comes as both nations work to implement bilateral agreements following recent high-level meetings. Volodin emphasized strengthening practical cooperation, echoing commitments made during the 2023 China-Russia Economic Forum. Analysts suggest such symbolic gestures reinforce political trust amid evolving global dynamics.
