Wu Xiaowang is invited to participate in the military parade during the commemoration activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. (Photo provided by Wu Xiaowang)

As the Chinese diaspora has spread worldwide, Chinese foods have become more and more popular abroad. Wu Xiaowang, a Chinese national living in Belgium who opened a Chinese restaurant there, was excited to receive an invitation to participate in a military parade during commemoration activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Beijing.

"The long history of culture has nurtured many overseas Chinese like me. It was us who helped Chinese food spread out all over the world," said Wu.

Wu Xiaowang was born in 1977 in Wencheng county of east China's Zhejiang province. He settled in Belgium in 1991 and opened a famous Chinese restaurant with his wife there.

When Wu first arrived in what to him was a strange land, along with other Chinese people, he started his career and through learning cooking skills and doing odd jobs. But he insisted on the dream of opening a restaurant of his own and letting Belgians know how good Chinese food is.

One chef of Wu Xiaowang's Chinese restaurant presents the Beijing Roast Duck. (Photo provided by Wu Xiaowang)

"Peking Roast Duck is the most popular of our various Chinese cuisines. Several hundred Peking ducks are sold in my restaurant every day. Fried noodles and Mapo bean curd are also favorite dishes among the locals," said Wu.