New Sino-Greek exhibition in Athens shows horrors of warfare

Chinese and Greek officials have opened a powerful new exhibition in Athens to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the World Anti-Fascist War — a showcase that recalls the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre while urging peace through shared history.

The event began with Greek schoolchildren singing songs of peace, their clear voices both a tribute to victims of war and a symbol of hope for generations to come.

"Though far apart, China and Greece are joined by ancient civilizations and enduring friendship," said Hu Kaihong of China's State Council Information Office. "Remembering history reminds us that peace is the deepest aspiration of every human life."

The exhibition presents UNESCO-listed archives from the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, when Japanese troops killed more than 300,000 civilians. Side-by-side, it highlights the wartime suffering of Greece — from the Nazi massacre at Kalavryta to the famine of 1942 — linking the two nations through shared trauma and survival.

"Nanjing and Athens are two ancient cities that endured the trials of war," said Fang Qiu, China's Ambassador to Greece. "To remember history is not to perpetuate hatred, but to work together for a brighter future."

Greek officials echoed that message. Deputy Governor of Attica Vlahos told attendees: "The memory of cities is not only about the past — it is the foundation on which we can build a future of dialogue, understanding, and coexistence."

Organizers say the event is more than remembrance: it is also cultural exchange, reflecting China and Greece's deepening ties in trade, tourism and education. 

Running until September 30, the exhibition underlines that memory is not only history, but a warning — and perhaps the best defense against repeating past tragedies.