Fifty-nine years ago Sunday, the Japanese emperor announced his nation's surrender. For China, eight years of war against the invading forces ended.

In Beijing, more than 50 historians commemorated the 59th anniversary of the end of the Anti-Japanese War by holding a special meeting in the Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall.

They called for a just attitude towards the war by the Japanese government and the establishment of friendly ties between China and Japan.

In Nanjing, visiting Japanese groups, historians, survivors of the Nanjing Massacre, and young people gathered to mark the day. All the groups vowed they would remember the historical lesson and oppose war in the future.

In Hong Kong, some groups held a commemorative gathering and called for an end to militarism in Japan.

During the eight years of war with Japan, more than 35 million Chinese lost their lives and the country suffered countless atrocities.

(CRI.com August 16, 2004)