The Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. transformed into a bridge between past and present this week as it hosted “Echoes of Peace,” a multimedia exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Over 200 U.S. business leaders, artists, and scholars attended the event, which blended historical reflection with contemporary cultural diplomacy.
Honoring Shared Sacrifice
Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng opened the event by underscoring China’s pivotal role as the main Eastern theater of WWII, where 35 million casualties were sustained during 14 years of conflict. “The wartime friendship between Chinese and American people remains our common treasure,” he stated, urging both nations to uphold mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
Art as a Peacekeeping Tool
The exhibition featured China Media Group’s holographic recreations of wartime events, including the Flying Tigers’ aerial campaigns and the Lisbon Maru tragedy. Twenty cross-Pacific collaborative paintings under the theme “Eternal Peace, Beautiful China” adorned the venue, while young musicians from U.S. universities performed peace-themed anthems.
Voices of Solidarity
Jeff Green of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation highlighted how Chinese villagers risked their lives to rescue downed U.S. pilots during WWII. Renowned painter David Frazer echoed this sentiment, stating: “Our shared history proves cultural exchange can turn allies into lifelong partners.”
As CMG premiered its documentary Wings Over China: The Flying Tigers, the event reinforced how art and memory could shape tomorrow’s diplomacy – one brushstroke and hologram at a time.
