CMG marks WWII 80th anniversary with “Echoes of Peace” at UN

On August 13, the China Media Group (CMG) and the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations co-hosted the cultural exchange event “Echoes of Peace” at the UN Headquarters in New York.

CMG President Shen Haixiong delivered a video address. Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, Fu Cong, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, and the Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, Jeffrey Greene, attended and spoke at the event.

Over 100 participants — including diplomats from more than 30 countries, UN officials, and descendants of Flying Tigers veterans — attended the event.

“Eighty years ago, people around the world, including China, the Soviet Union, the United States, and other Allied nations, came together to fight a common enemy of humanity, and ultimately achieved the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War,” said Fu Cong. “During the war, for 14 years, the Chinese people held ground in the main theater in the East. Through unyielding courage and immense sacrifice of 35 million casualties, we defeated the Japanese militarists, thereby making a decisive contribution to humanity’s triumph over fascism.”

He also said that “The Chinese people did not fight alone. We received valuable support from the international community. With the solidarity of nations and peoples who cherished peace and justice, we have together written a grand chapter in human history.”

He noted that eighty years later, the cause of peace and development remains a long and difficult journey. Our gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II is meant to reaffirm the UN’s founding mission and to learn from history as we look to the future.

Shen Haixiong quoted President Xi Jinping’s words that “Historical memories and truths will not fade with the passage of time, and the lessons they offer will continue to illuminate the present and guide the future,” and announced CMG will offer multilingual coverage on all platforms for the events marking the 80th anniversary, presenting “Victory,” “Mountains and Rivers Bear Witness,” “The Surrender,” “A Shared Mission” and other high-quality productions to promote an accurate view of WWII through authentic footage and shine the light of fairness and justice into people’s hearts.

Fleming expressed the UN’s high appreciation for China’s image as a responsible major country in upholding multilateralism and promoting global cooperation and development. She called on the international community to step up humanitarian assistance and work together to address global challenges such as climate change and food security.

Greene stated that the Chinese people, through immense national sacrifice, sustained the main theater in the East of the World Anti-Fascist War. The steadfast resistance of Chinese military and civilian forces not only effectively weakened the Japanese aggressors’ military power but also tied down their strategic deployments.

He also paid tribute to the wartime cooperation between China and the United States, especially the Flying Tigers, calling it a lasting bond between the two peoples.

“This story of remarkable friendship, mutual sacrifice and on a deeply human level, a story of both love and fidelity, that remains a remarkable touchstone that continues to unite the people of China and the people of the United States with a powerful message of hope and respect,” said Greene.

On the night of the event, with the use of high-definition laser projection technology, CMG transformed the UN building façade into a canvas for a short film marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

After watching the projection, the guests were deeply moved, expressing that it was not only a reflection on and tribute to history, but also a prayer for and a defense of peace.

Clifford Long, the son of a Flying Tigers veteran, told CMG reporters that the light-and-shadow display, created with modern technology, was incredibly striking. He emphasized that remembering this shared history holds significant contemporary relevance, and that the peoples of China and the United States should draw wisdom and strength from it to promote a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship between the two countries.

Gugu Makhari, Chair Commission on Women’s Rights and Youth Council at African Heritage Women in Education and Empowerment, said that CMG’s use of advanced projection technology to recreate historical scenes through stunning visual art was profoundly moving. She expressed deep admiration for the resilience and indomitable spirit shown by the Chinese people during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

So far, the “Echoes of Peace” UN event have been reported and shared by 1,330 mainstream media outlets across more than 50 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan, South Korea, the UAE, India, and Malaysia.

The “Echoes of Peace” series of cultural exchange events is scheduled to continue in the near future in countries including Russia, Kenya, the United States, South Korea, the UAE, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

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