Beijing is preparing to stage what observers expect will be the largest military parade in its modern history next Wednesday, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory against Japanese aggression and global fascism in the Second World War. The event, to be presided over by President Xi Jinping, will not only showcase China’s military discipline and power but also bring together an unusually large gathering of world leaders, underscoring Beijing’s growing international influence.
According to official announcements, 26 heads of state and government have accepted President Xi’s invitation to attend the commemorative events. Among the most prominent guests will be Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, alongside Asian leaders including Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese official Luong Cuong, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Leaders from Nepal, the Maldives, and several Central Asian republics including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan will also be present.
Beyond Asia, a number of leaders from Europe, Africa and Latin America are scheduled to attend. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing are among those confirmed.
The gathering highlights China’s ability to draw together leaders from diverse political and geographical backgrounds at a time of intensifying global rivalries. Officials in Beijing have described the commemorations as both a solemn tribute to the sacrifices of the Chinese people during World War II and a symbolic reaffirmation of the international fight against fascism. In addition to heads of state, the Chinese government has invited parliamentary speakers, deputy prime ministers, senior representatives of international organizations and former political leaders to participate in the series of events.
The military parade itself is expected to be the centrepiece of the commemorations, featuring China’s most advanced weaponry and thousands of troops trained to near-flawless precision. For Beijing, the occasion is as much about remembering history as it is about projecting strength and unity on the world stage.
