Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao meets with a group of Japanese orphans who were raised by Chinese families after the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, July 15, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met with a group of Japanese orphans who were raised by Chinese families after the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The militarist Japan left behind thousands of children in China after its defeat in World War II in 1945. The Japanese children were adopted and raised by large-minded Chinese people. They later returned home to Japan with the help of the Chinese government and the people.

During the meeting with around 50 representatives of the orphans, mostly in their 70s, Vice President Li said the two countries suffered the tragedy caused by Japanese militarism.

Li said the Japanese orphans have worked actively to promote friendship between the two countries.

Noting that China will mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression this year, Li said China is ready to push for the improvement of China-Japan relations on the basis of the four political documents signed by the two countries and in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and facing up to the future.

The Japanese orphans said they will always remember the Chinese people's kindness and work for friendship between Japan and China.