World leaders attend China’s military parade

BEIJING,— China staged a military parade in its capital on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, drawing leaders and representatives from 26 countries.

The guest list highlighted Beijing’s expanding diplomatic influence, particularly among nations outside the Western alliance system.

Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over the ceremony in Tiananmen Square, joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The three leaders stood together on the reviewing platform as long-range missiles, tanks and columns of soldiers rolled past.

The presence of Putin, Kim and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was widely viewed by analysts as a message of opposition to Washington. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, another close ally of Moscow, was also seen near Xi during the ceremony.

Chinese state television showed Xi speaking briefly with Kim as they walked on the red carpet following group photographs. Through an interpreter, Xi told Kim, “Long time, no see.”

Most of the visiting heads of state came from Asia. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim were present. Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith also took part.

South Asian leaders included Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.

From Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajikistan’s Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyzstan’s Sadyr Japarov, Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Turkmenistan’s Serdar Berdimuhamedow attended, along with Mongolia’s President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa.

Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and Republic of Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso represented Africa. Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel was the only leader from the Americas at the event. Other attendees included Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Nikol Pashinyan.

Current European leaders were largely absent, with exceptions such as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Belarus’ Lukashenko also attended. Several former officials were present, including Romania’s ex-prime ministers Adrian Năstase and Viorica Dăncilă, former New Zealand prime ministers Helen Clark and John Key, and former Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews from Australia.

India was notable for its absence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not attend the parade but published messages on social media following earlier meetings with Xi and Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization gathering. Modi described his discussions as “fruitful” and called his talks with Putin “always insightful.”

According to political observers, the composition of the guest list underlined Beijing’s close ties with countries often critical of U.S. policy while also signaling limited engagement from Western Europe, Japan and India. Analysts said the parade was both a commemoration of World War II and a demonstration of China’s partnerships with a wide range of states outside the Western bloc.

(With files from AP)