July 7th is the 78th anniversary of the July 7th Incident, also known as the Lugou Bridge Incident in Beijing. It marked the beginning of China’s eight year long War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1937.

Chinese President Xi Jinping went to an exhibition on the war with the theme "great victory, historical contribution" at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In his speech to mark the anniversary, President Xi urged the CPC and the Chinese people to never forget this period of history. He also said the Chinese people cherish peace, will steadfastly stick to the peaceful development path, and unswervingly uphold world peace.

A special ceremony was held Tuesday morning in a Beijing suburb to mark the anniversary. Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the ceremony and gave an address in which he called on people to remember history and those who gave their lives. Similar commemorative events are being held across the country.

Japan invaded northeast China in September 1931. But historians agree that Japan's full-scale invasion started on July 7th, 1937, at a crucial access point to Beijing, the Lugou Bridge. Around 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded before Japan surrendered in 1945. At least 300-thousand people were slaughtered in the Nanjing Massacre alone.