Peace highlighted on anniversary of war against Japan
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Holding her television's remote control, An Hongrong changed channels from time to time to search for any documentaries or movies telling the story of China's eight-year war of resistance against Japanese aggression that began on July 7, 1937 in Beijing.
"I've gotten used to reviewing the history on such a special day every year. I enjoy tasting our victory again and again. It's like a commemorative ceremony by myself," said the 80-year-old retired teacher in Tianjin, a city about 120 km southeast of Beijing.
An has been too old to join in a large crowd in Beijing to mourn for the martyrs of the war.
Those panicked days when her family was forced to turn in grain to the Japanese invaders have been burned into An's mind.
An said the Chinese young should remember the country' s humiliation and sacrifices in the past. "But they should put hatred behind, while cherishing peace, that is what I wanted most as a child," she said.
On July 7, 1937 the Imperial Japanese Army bombarded the town of Wanping in suburban Beijing and advanced on the Lugou Bridge.
The No. 29 Nationalists Corps fought hard while resisting the siege, marking the official start of the full-scale anti-aggression war, which ended in 1945 with China's hard-won victory.
On the same day 73 years later, more than 3,000 people visited the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression near the Lugou Bridge for an exhibition showcasing the anti-fascism battles jointly fought by the Chinese and Russians.
The pictures, paintings and relics on display depicted the equally indelible contributions of the two peoples in World War II, said Shen Qiang, head of the memorial, adding that the exhibition would last for about two months.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Moscow in May to attend ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of Victory Day in Russia's Great Patriotic War over Nazi Germany.
Most westerners regard Sept. 1, 1939, when the Germans launched a sudden attack on Poland, as the beginning of WWII. However, they have neglected to recall China's sacrifices in which some 35 million people died or were injured during the drawn-out war, said Yu Pei, head of the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
Besides highlighting the decisive role China played in WWII and in preaching peace, China's marking of the war of resistance was also helpful to forge better Sino-Japanese relations, said Yu.
China held the commemorative ceremonies to display its intention of living in harmony with other countries, especially its neighbors, Yu said.
Yu's opinions were shared by his colleague Lu Yaodong, a member of the Institute of Japanese Studies of the CASS.
"We must have a clear understanding of the history before looking into the future," Lu said.
The two former enemies have been pushing forward on their bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations, characterized by the increasing cooperation in economy and environmental protection and active exchanges between their youths, Lu said.
"I believe the disputes can be properly solved as long as the two sides take the general situation into account," he said.
Promoting the mutual understanding and development of the two countries could heal the hurt caused by the war, which depends on the joint efforts of both sides, Yu said.
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