Xi, Putin, Kim take seats together to watch World War II victory parade
Upon his arrival to the ceremony at Tiananmen Square, Xi was accompanied by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with the three shaking hands with each other on the red carpet before taking their seats.
https://p.dw.com/p/4zu5x
September 3, 2025
Besides Putin and Kim, who are some of the other prominent leaders at the parade?
A host of world leaders are at the parade in Beijing.
Among the 26 country heads attending are Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif as well as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Two African leaders are in attendance, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso.
Serbia leader Aleksandar Vucic, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko — all allies of Russia’s Vladimir Putin — are the only European country heads to travel to China for the parade.
https://p.dw.com/p/4zu17
September 3, 2025
What’s expected at the WWII victory parade in Beijing?
Security in and around the city of Beijing has tightened as the city expects a host of world leaders to attend a military parade commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II. The event will takes place at the city's Tiananmen Square.
China is expected to put its military prowess on show, including troops, fighter jets and other forms of army equipment.
Some two dozen world leaders will join Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the most prominent of them being Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The latter is mostly expected to draw attention in a rare trip outside the secretive country which he leads, with the dynamics between Kim, Putin and Xi also taking center stage.
The three leaders' expected photo op will likely be seen as a boost for China's leadership role on the world stage.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is the only leader of an EU country expected to be at the event.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ztzf
Welcome to our coverage
Welcome to DW’s coverage of China’s massive military parade in Beijing which marks Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and many other leaders are expected to attend the event.
Stay tuned to this blog for the latest coverage on the event and DW’s analysis of its geopolitical implications.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ztqe
