Zhou Fuqi, 90, views pictures at a memorial hall in Shanghai. Zhou was one of the “800 heroes” who fought Japanese invaders in the city in 1937. — Zhang Suoqing

President Hu Jintao said in Beijing yesterday that the Chinese people are commemorating "the victory of the resistance war against Japanese aggression" so that they can remember history, cherish peace and create a better future.
"We will seize the opportunity to concentrate on construction and development," Hu said during his visit to a commemorative exhibition held near the Lugou Bridge, also known as the Marco Polo Bridge, where the war started in 1937.
"We will always steadfastly pursue the peaceful development road and join with all nations in the world to collectively advance the lofty causes of peace and development of humankind," said Hu.
The exhibition, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, consists of photographs, recreated scenes and relics from the war period.
"The exhibition faithfully reflects the glorious path of the Chinese people's heroic fight against Japanese aggressors," said Hu. "They are vivid teaching materials for education in patriotism among the people, especially the young people."
Hu's visit to the exhibition was only one of many events held yesterday to mark Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945.
China's religious leaders called on the people of all nationalities, ethnic groups and beliefs in the world to join hands to create sound and harmonious lives of humankind and remove war forever.
Leaders of the national associations of China's five religions, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianism, made the call at a symposium held in Beijing.
"Peace is the common aspiration of all religions. Maintaining world peace is the holy mission of all religious followers," said one of the religious leaders.
A calligraphy and painting exhibition titled "Peace, Fraternity and Striving to be Stronger" opened in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu Province, yesterday.
The more than 1,000 calligraphy works and paintings on display depict Japanese militarism and the spirit of the Chinese people in battling the invaders.
Books on themes related to World War II have become best sellers in China over the past several months. An exhibition of more than 500 publications brought many visitors to a show yesterday in Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
"The pictures and the words all make you feel the sincerity and true love coming from the bottom of the heart...We should cherish peace!" said Chen Xiang, a young man who visited the exhibition and bought a book that told how a Chinese farmer rescued a member of the Flying Tigers, an American volunteer group that fought in China.