BEIJING, Sept 3: — Chinese President Xi Jinping brought together two of his nation’s most prominent allies, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in a powerful display of diplomatic solidarity on Wednesday. The occasion was a military parade in Beijing, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Xi was joined by leaders from 26 countries, but it was the sight of Putin and Kim flanking him on the viewing platform that drew the most attention from observers. As they watched a procession of military hardware and marching troops, their joint appearance was widely interpreted as a direct message of unity against the United States.
While key leaders from the U.S., Western Europe, Japan, and India skipped the event, and countries such as South Korea and Singapore sent lower-level officials, the guest list underscored Beijing’s growing influence in the Global South and emerging economies.
The parade’s attendees included other figures viewed as U.S. adversaries, such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.7 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia, was noted walking next to Kim after a group photograph. Observers described the sight of these leaders alongside Xi as a clear challenge to the existing U.S.-led international order.
Asia provided the largest contingent of national leaders, with attendees including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who reversed an earlier cancellation of his trip due to domestic protests. Other Southeast Asian counterparts included Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, also attended. From South and Central Asia, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev were present.
Leaders from Africa included Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Republic of Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was the sole leader from the Americas to attend.
Although the guest list largely mirrored the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, notable absences included representatives from India and Turkiye.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, had posted positive remarks on social media about his recent meetings with both Xi and Putin. Modi mentioned that his “conversations” with Putin were “always insightful” and that he had a “fruitful meeting” with Xi.
Outside of Putin and Lukashenko, the only other European leaders at the parade were Serbia’s Russia-friendly President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. Former Romanian prime ministers Adrian Nastase and Viorica Dancila were also present for the group photograph.
