MANDALAY, Myanmar - A photo exhibition on commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of anti- fascist war was launched on Saturday in Mandalay, the second largest city of Myanmar, under the theme of "pray for world peace, don't forget the lessons of history."

The three-day exhibition featured a collection of selected pictures from the Chinese people worldwide, attracting about 500 visitors.

The exhibition was jointly organized by Myanmar-China Friendship Association in Mandalay, Mandalay multi-religious society, Chinese Consulate-General in Mandalay, Paukphaw Network website and other Chinese associations.

The photo exhibition showcased loss from the war as well as the importance of peace, chairman of Myanmar-China Friendship Association in Mandalay U Po Myint said, adding that people all over the world love peace and hate war.

"Peace and development have become the mainstream of the world and it is needed to jointly safeguard world peace," said Chinese Consul-General in Mandalay Wang Yu.

On the same day, the two-day International Academic Symposium on the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations and the Implications of the Development of Southeast Asia was held in Yangon.

The symposium, jointly organized by Center for Strategic and International Studies of Myanmar and Yunnan University of China, highlighted the functions and reform process of the UN in the past 70 years and its future at the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victories of World War II.

"Things have changed quite dramatically during the last 70 years. The UN must also adapt to these changes and implement necessary reforms to be in line with the current international situation," said U Khin Maung Win, former deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.

Myanmar, the 58th member state, officially joined the UN on April 19, 1948 after regaining its independence.

Myanmar's representative to the UN U Thant was appointed to the post of UN secretary general and served for 10 years from 1961 to 1971.