Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among 26 global leaders who attended China’s biggest military parade on Wednesday, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
President Xi Jinping hosted the high-profile event at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, with over 50,000 spectators witnessing aerial displays, marching troops, and advanced weaponry including hypersonic missiles and unmanned drones.
Xi, dressed in a Mao-style suit, welcomed visiting heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who appeared at a Chinese military parade for the first time in decades.
The parade, lasting about 70 minutes, was seen as a demonstration of China’s growing military and political influence. Xi is expected to stress China’s role in shaping the postwar order and call for resistance against “hegemonism and power politics.”
Security across Beijing was tightened, with major roads closed and large numbers of volunteers deployed to ensure smooth proceedings.
Observers say the event not only highlights China’s military strength but also signals Xi’s vision of a new global order in which Beijing plays a leading role.
