Chinese authorities officially commenced numerous exhibitions and events on Tuesday to mark the beginning of the celebration of the 70^th anniversary of the country's victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War.

On July 7, 1937, a group of Chinese and Japanese forces outside Wanping in Beijing exchanged fire briefly.  Prior to this incident, there had been tension between the Japanese leadership and the Kuomintang (KMT) government, leading to an invasion and the expansion of the number of Japanese forces in China. Although fighting in the July 7^th incident was short-lived due to a ceasefire agreement, this exchange nonetheless created tension that eventually spiraled into full-blown warfare between both nations.

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At the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, President Xi Jinping, who was there with Premier Li Keqiang and other top members of the Communist Party, attended an exhibition to commemorate the Second Sino-Japanese War.

President Xi explained that it is important to remember the events that transpired during that period and also acknowledge the sacrifices and achievements of the Chinese people in order to protect the independence and dignity of China, China Radio International reported.

"Remembering history is to open up to the future...forgetting history is a betrayal," he said.

Thousands of photographs and artifacts are set to be displayed at the "Great Victory, Historic Contribution" exhibition.  The Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression sits in the Wanping Fortress near the Lu Gou Bridge, where the July 7^th incident transpired.

While the country's top leaders were attending an exhibition in Beijing, across the country, provincial authorities were also commemorating the 78th anniversary of the beginning of the war against Japan in various ways.

Xinhua reported that the authorities in Shandong Province have set up a website with 3D video to commemorate China's victory in the anti-Japanese war. The site includes details about battles as well as names of soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in the conflict.

Meanwhile in Japan, China's Ambassador Cheng Yonghua addressed a gathering of non-governmental organizations to mark the July 7^th incident, CCTV reported. Cheng said it was necessary for Japanese authorities to reflect on their actions during the war as they move into the future.

Japanese troops in China formally surrendered in September 1945, after about eight years of bloodshed that left millions dead on both sides. The Sino-Japanese war gave way to some of the most gruesome wartime crimes in history, such as the Hiroshima bombing.

China's commemoration of the 70^th anniversary of victory in the War Against Japanese Aggression and the anti-fascist war will be climaxed with a military parade in Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3. Foreign military groups and Heads of States are expected to be present at the ceremony.

TagsChina 78th Anniversary of July 7th Incident, 70th anniversary of victory in the War Against Japanese Aggression, Second Sino-Japanese War, Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Great Victory, Historic Contribution, China V-Day Parade