Gala, shows commemorate war victory

Themed exhibitions and performing arts shows have been planned to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, according to a State Council Information Office news conference on Thursday.

Among these cultural events is an evening gala scheduled to take place on Sept 3 in Beijing, as the day has been designated as China's Victory Day to mark the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept 2, 1945.

A permanent themed exhibition featuring more than 1,500 photos and some 3,200 artifacts is set to open on Monday at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing.

Luo Cunkang, the museum director, noted that the upcoming exhibition will chronicle the 14-year conflict, comprehensively demonstrating the struggle for the survival of the Chinese nation and human justice within the national united front led by the Communist Party of China.

The display places each of its eight parts within an international context, underscoring the crucial role of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) as the main Eastern theater of the World Anti-Fascist War and its significant contributions to the victory of the latter, Luo said.

He added that a dedicated section will be established to honor martyrs, with their names engraved, deeds explained and personal letters to family members exhibited and read aloud to help the audience better understand their emotional state during such a tumultuous time.

A series of commemorative TV dramas, documentaries and micro-short dramas are set to be released soon. These productions encompass a variety of themes, with some offering a grand narrative and panoramic view of the historical period and a micro perspective that delves into short stories, while others serve as portrayals of individual destinies set against historical backdrops, said Liu Jianguo, deputy director of the National Radio and Television Administration.

He added that some well-known audio and visual works featuring the war against the Japanese aggression will be rebroadcast nationwide and online this month.

According to Wang Xiaozhen, vice-president of China Media Group, they have been producing documentaries in multiple languages, holding dialogue with global interview subjects and applying historical materials collected worldwide to explain to an international audience the significance of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and to comprehensively showcase the contributions Chinese people made to the World Anti-Fascist War.

From August to September, the National Art Museum of China is scheduled to exhibit more than 300 paintings and sculptures — including both well-known pieces and new creations in recent years — collected from various art museums and galleries across the nation.

Lu Yingchuan, vice-minister of culture and tourism, said the exhibition aims to vividly depict the history of Chinese people who, under CPC leadership, united with determination to fight and eventually achieved the victory.

Various theaters in Beijing are planning to host around 20 stage works from around the country from August to October, which will also be livestreamed, he added.