In a striking display of geopolitical unity, Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended invitations to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend a grand military parade in Beijing on September 3, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender . This invitation spotlights their standing in China’s circle of strategic allies and elevates them as the most prominent foreign dignitaries in attendance .
Scheduled to be one of China’s most formidable parades in years, the event will take place in Tiananmen Square, where Xi will review tens of thousands of troops alongside international leaders . Modern military assets—including fighter jets, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons—will be featured prominently in a choreographed exhibition of military might .
A total of 26 foreign heads of state and government are expected to attend, hailing from countries such as Belarus, Iran, Indonesia, Serbia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and others . Notably, no Western leaders—with the exception of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico—are on the guest list, underscoring a deliberate alignment with Global South partners amid rising tensions with the West .
From North Korea’s perspective, this visit—its first to China since 2019—reflects an effort to solidify its economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing as sanctions and international isolation intensify . For Russia, Putin’s appearance amid continued Western sanctions signals renewed geopolitical solidarity with Beijing .
Beyond military pageantry, the gathering signals a deeper consolidation of relations among China, Russia, and North Korea—asserting a counter-narrative to Western influence and articulating a shared vision of global order grounded in mutual support and strategic defiance.
