Putin and Kim to join Xi at Beijing’s Victory Day parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will join Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for the upcoming Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. This will be the first time the three leaders appear together publicly, signaling a united front against Western pressure.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry, 26 foreign heads of state and government will attend next week’s parade, with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico being the only EU leader among them.

Set for September 3, the Victory Day parade will highlight China’s growing military power while underscoring solidarity not only between China and the Global South but also with heavily sanctioned Russia and North Korea. Beijing has supported Moscow since its 2022 intervention in Ukraine, while Kim’s last visit to China was in January 2019.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hong Lei announced that other attendees will include Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will also be present.

The United Nations will be represented by Deputy Secretary-General Li Junhua, a veteran Chinese diplomat who previously served as ambassador to Italy, San Marino, and Myanmar.

On the day of the event, Xi will review tens of thousands of troops in Tiananmen Square, accompanied by foreign leaders and senior Chinese officials. The parade, one of China’s largest in recent years, will showcase advanced weaponry including fighter jets, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons.