The Russian consulate general in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region opened on Thursday a photo exhibition to commemorate the alliance between China and the Soviet Union during World War II.

“The exhibition is not only about military victories but also about the broader victory of friendship of the human bonds,” Russian Consul General Anatoly Kargapolov said at the opening ceremony.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War (1941-45), and the World Anti-Fascist War.

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The exhibition was unveiled at the Hong Kong Central Library and is open to the public through Tuesday.

The exhibition features more than 30 rare photographs and archival documents provided by the Russian embassy in Beijing, with many being presented to the public in Hong Kong for the first time.

In Hong Kong, Kargapolov said the consulate is also working to preserve the shared World War II heritage, as the city is the final resting place for several Russian seamen killed by Japanese bombs.

Through extensive research, the identities of some of the Russian seamen were eventually found out, Kargapolov said.

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“As the main battlefields in Asia and Europe during World War II, China and the Soviet Union made enormous national sacrifices in resisting Japanese military and the German fascist aggression, and contributed significantly to winning the war,” said Li Yongsheng, deputy commissioner of the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR.

Although peace, development and win-win cooperation have remained the main theme of the times over the past 80 years, Li said the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, making it necessary to strengthen global governance.

China is ready to work with Russia and all other countries to enhance cooperation and explore ways to improve global governance so as to create a brighter future of peace, stability, security, prosperity and progress for all, Li said.

Contact the writer at kelly@chinadailyapac.com