President Trump Says The United States Should Be Called On Victory Day Celebration In China

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday China's "beautiful ceremony" marking the end of World War II should highlight the US role in Japan's defeat.

"I thought it was a beautiful ceremony. I think it was very, very impressive," Trump told reporters in the Oval Room.

"I watched the speech last night. President Xi was my friend, but I think the United States was supposed to be mentioned last night in the speech, because we were very, very helpful for China," he added.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held the 80th anniversary of "Victory Day" in Beijing which was attended by a number of heads of state, heads of government, and invitees on Wednesday.

Flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, President Xi addressed more than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square.

He and invited guests then attended a bold parade of troops and sophisticated military equipment aimed at dispelling potential enemies, including the United States.

It is known that the Japanese invasion of China in 1937 was a major escalation in fighting which sparked World War II, and Japan's surrender in 1945 marked the end of the conflict.

The US joined the war in 1941, helping Chinese troops fight the Japanese military and playing an important role in Japan's defeat.

President Xi thanked "foreign governments and international friends who have supported and helped the Chinese people," according to an official. However, he did not discuss the role of the United States in the war.

US-Chinese relations are at a tense point. The two sides clashed over various security issues, from Ukraine to the South China Sea, and were at odds over a broad trade deal to prevent tariffs on their respective items.

However, President Trump has repeatedly praised positive personal relations with President Xi which his aides say could direct the world's two largest economies in a constructive direction.

He also said he was likely to meet with President Xi soon.