The medal marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War to the memorial hall. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov on Sunday presented the Jubilee Medal "75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" to the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, the first time that such a medal was awarded to an institution rather than individuals.

The medal was issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

It is the first time that the Russian government has awarded the medal to representatives of outstanding units that told the history of World War II, spread the concept of peace and promoted friendship between Russia and China. Previously, the medal was awarded only to individual representatives of veterans who had made outstanding contributions to the Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The award ceremony took place at the opening of the exhibition "Patriotic War through the Lens of Women Photojournalists" on Sunday. A total of 107 photographs of the Patriotic War taken by well-known Soviet female photojournalists are on display.

First of all, Russia conferring a Jubilee Medal to a Chinese war-themed museum signals the close ties and active cultural interactions between the two countries, Li Xing, a professor at the School of Government of Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Li noted that China and Russia share the same stance concerning the World Anti-Fascist War - respecting historical truths and recognizing both countries'  commitment and contribution to the final victory.

Moreover, remembering history also has a realistic significance, Li said. 

Observers warned that some historical revisionist forces have dangerously distorted the historical narrative, which shakes the basis for the post-War order, multilateralism and peaceful development principles. 

Sunday also marks China's seventh National Memorial Day for the more than 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which took place as Japanese troops captured Nanjing 83 years ago. The painful history is testimony of how Chinese people fought against the Japanese invaders during the World Anti-Fascist War.

At the memorial service, participants sang the Chinese national anthem, observed a moment of silence and laid flowers to express their deep condolences and remembrance of compatriots and martyrs who were killed in the Nanjing Massacre and World War II.