BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China will organize an array of cultural events to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

A press conference was held on Thursday by the State Council Information Office to unveil details of these cultural activities, which include an evening gala, a themed exhibition, and the release of outstanding literary and artistic works, among others.

Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Lu Yingchuan said that to mark this important anniversary year, the ministry is working with relevant departments to organize a gala and curate a selection of outstanding cultural works for performances and exhibitions.

The events are centered on the themes of bearing history in mind, honoring martyrs, cherishing peace, and striving for a better future, Lu said.

Sept. 3 is celebrated in China as the Victory Day marking the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.

Fought from 1931 to 1945, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the first war to break out and the longest-running campaign in the World Anti-Fascist War. This war resulted in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties.

EVENING GALA

An evening gala will be held on Sept. 3 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the occasion, and it will be broadcast by China Media Group (CMG).

A large number of outstanding artists from across the country have been invited, and a younger generation of cultural professionals will play a leading role and actively engage in the creative process, said Lu.

The event will be jointly organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, CMG, the Political Work Department of the China Military Commission and the Beijing municipal government.

Preparations for the gala are well underway via joint efforts of the relevant departments, Lu said, adding that follow-up information will be released in accordance with overall arrangements for these commemorative events.

THEMED EXHIBITION

A themed exhibition will be launched on July 7 at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. It will feature 1,525 photographs and 3,237 relics.

Divided into eight sections, the exhibition will employ a range of modern display techniques to bring history to life, combining rare relics, archival documents, historical footage, artworks and immersive recreations of key moments, said Luo Cunkang, curator of the museum, at Thursday's press conference.

The exhibition comprehensively showcases the 14-year war of resistance against Japanese aggression, highlighting how the Chinese people, gathered around the banner of the CPC-advocated national united front against Japanese aggression, fought for the survival of the country, for the revival of the nation, and in a broader sense, for human justice, Luo said.

As the main Eastern battlefield in the global fight against fascism, China's resistance was decisive in defeating Japanese fascism and supporting other fronts in Europe and Asia, profoundly contributing to the final victory and world peace.

ARTWORKS, TV AND FILM PRODUCTIONS

From August to September, an art exhibition to commemorate the anniversary will be open to the public at the National Art Museum of China. More than 300 artworks, including traditional Chinese paintings, oil paintings, prints, sculptures and watercolors, will be on show.

The exhibition is set to feature classic pieces from museums and cultural institutions across the country, as well as new works recently created by young artists -- inspiring people to cherish peace.

Meanwhile, a series of new TV dramas, documentaries and short dramas will soon be released, said Liu Jianguo, deputy director of China's National Radio and Television Administration.

He added that from July to September, classic Chinese audio and visual works related to the war on Japanese aggression will be re-broadcast on nationwide TV channels and online platforms.

To remember history and pay tribute to martyrs, nearly 100 films about the war will also be broadcast on TV until the end of 2025, Wang Xiaozhen, vice president of the CMG, said.  ■