WASHINGTON - Starting Monday, more than 60 rare black-and-white photos of China during World War II took over the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington.

Mounted by the US-China Policy Foundation, the photo exhibit - titled China's Role in WWII - is from the collection of USCPF president Wang Chi, who has spent 40 years collecting historical photos the world over.

Established in 1995, the USCPF is a non-partisan, non-profit, non-advocacy organization that promotes greater understanding between American and Chinese policymakers, researchers and government officials.

"When Americans discuss WWII, very little attention is given to the role China played in the war," said Ernestine Wang, vice-president of the USCPF. "Most don't know about the price China paid fighting the war. There is a Holocaust Museum right here in DC, but people here don't even know about the grievous Nanjing Massacre.

"Our mission is to bring awareness to young Chinese and Americans to learn about historical facts as comprehensively as possible," Wang said.

Running through July 28, the exhibit not only marks the 80th anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, but also highlights China-US cooperation during the war.

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident marks the official start of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), which later merged with the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

The exhibit includes photos of the civilian casualties of the Nanjing Massacre, Japanese air raids against Chongqing and the Battle of Shanghai.

"The US was an important wartime ally of China, and you can see that relationship from some of the photos here," Wang said.

Yuan Yuan in Washington contributed to the story.

China Daily