* Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his visit to Russia, where he attended the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

* During bilateral meetings with leaders of several countries on the sidelines of the celebrations, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to enhancing cooperation and strengthening ties with these countries and underscored multilateralism and joint response to global challenges.

MOSCOW, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping left here Saturday after paying a state visit to Russia and attending the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

During bilateral meetings with leaders of several countries here Friday on the sidelines of the Victory Day celebrations, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to enhancing cooperation and strengthening ties with these countries, and emphasized the importance of upholding multilateralism and working together to address global challenges.

REMEMBERING HISTORY

On Friday, the Chinese president joined his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and leaders from more than 20 countries and international organizations to lay red flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The solemn ceremony marked a moment of remembering and paying tribute to those who perished in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

The Soviet Union was the principal theater of World War II in Europe, losing 27 million lives, while China was the main theater in Asia, suffering 35 million casualties in its resistance against the bulk of Japanese militarist forces.

Together, the two countries were the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contributions to the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.

This was the second time for Xi to attend Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Ten years ago, he traveled to Moscow for the 70th anniversary. In the same year, Putin also attended China's Victory Day parade on Sept. 3 in Beijing to commemorate the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The past decade has been one of profound turbulence and transformation in the international landscape, Xi noted when meeting the press with Putin on Thursday.

In the face of the changes of the world, of the times and of historical significance, China and Russia should keep a firm grasp on the development direction of bilateral ties and the general trend of the development of human society, Xi said, calling for greater joint efforts in safeguarding international fairness and justice.

Ahead of Xi's visit, Russian media published the Chinese leader's signed article titled "Learning from History to Build Together a Brighter Future."

"Indeed, historical memory and truth will not fade with the passage of time. They serve as inspirations that mirror the present and illuminate the future. We must learn from history, especially the hard lessons of the Second World War," he wrote.

IRONCLAD FRIENDSHIPS

During bilateral meetings with Venezuelan, Cuban and Serbian leaders attending Russia's Victory Day celebrations, Xi reaffirmed ironclad friendships between China and the three countries, emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation in various sectors.

In his meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Xi noted that China and Venezuela have forged an ironclad friendship amid the changing international situation.

Since the two countries elevated bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership in 2023, exchanges across various sectors and at all levels have been vigorous, bilateral trade has grown continuously, new progress has been made in investment cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and friendship between the two sides has become increasingly popular among the two peoples, Xi said.

He said China has always viewed and developed relations with Venezuela from a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to enhance the exchange of governance experience with Venezuela, continue to deepen practical cooperation in various areas and take bilateral ties to new heights, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

While meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Xi noted that this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Cuba, adding that China is willing to further consolidate the ironclad friendship with Cuba, build a closer China-Cuba community with a shared future, and set an example of solidarity and cooperation among socialist countries and sincere mutual assistance among developing countries.

Xi called on both sides to promote steady progress in exchanges at all levels and cooperation in various fields, and ensure that high-level political mutual trust always remains a distinct feature of relations between the two ruling parties and the two countries.

In his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Xi urged the two sides to carry forward the ironclad friendship, boost mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the high-quality building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future.

China is ready to deepen strategic communication with Serbia, enhance mutual support, strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, continue supporting the construction and operation of relevant projects, give full play to their demonstrative effect, and achieve more outcomes that deliver mutual benefit and win-win results, Xi said.

UPHOLDING MULTILATERALISM

In these bilateral meetings on Friday, Xi also reaffirmed China's commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation, and emphasized the importance of working together to address global challenges.

During his meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Xi said that China stands ready to work with Slovakia and other countries to jointly address challenges through solidarity and cooperation and safeguard international fairness and justice.

Fico said that the Slovak side stands ready to join efforts with China to uphold multilateralism, safeguard free trade rules, and maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

During the meeting with Maduro, Xi said that China is ready to work with Venezuela and other Latin American countries to firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law.

For his part, Maduro said that Venezuela is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to uphold multilateralism, defend international fairness and justice, and safeguard the common interests of the international community.

In the meeting with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, Xi urged the two sides to jointly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

In the meeting with Diaz-Canel, Xi urged the two sides to enhance coordination and cooperation within such frameworks as the BRICS and the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, oppose power politics and unilateral bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

Diaz-Canel said Cuba supports the three major global initiatives proposed by China, and is willing to work with China to jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and to safeguard the common interests of the international community.

In his meeting with Serbia's Vucic, Xi said China is ready to work with all countries in the world, including Serbia, to unite and cooperate to meet challenges, jointly safeguard world peace and international fairness and justice, safeguard the achievements of economic globalization, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Vucic commends China's steadfast support for multilateralism, noting that China's visions and actions have bolstered the international community's courage and confidence in safeguarding common interests.

Serbia stands ready to unite with China in addressing the challenges posed by unilateralism and protectionism, Vucic added.