BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Senior military officers visited an exhibition on China's WWII conflict with Japan as it opened in Beijing's Military Museum on Thursday.

Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said, "We commemorate the victory in the Anti-Japanese War in a bid to honor history and those who sacrificed their lives, and also to cherish peace and create a peaceful future."

Fan also urged the country's service men and women to "draw strength from history and to develop a correct view of history", and to help make the Chinese military strong.

The exhibition, featuring hundreds of photos, paintings and artifacts, focuses on the role of the Communist Party of China and its army in the war.

Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the CMC, also visited on Thursday.

The exhibition is being held ahead of the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.