Laura Bicker<\/span>China correspondent , Beijing<\/span> and<\/span><\/p>\n Thomas Mackintosh<\/span>BBC News<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n The leaders of China, Russia and North Korea have appeared in public together for the first time in a show of solidarity at a massive military parade in Beijing.<\/p>\n President Xi Jinping said the world faced a choice between peace and war as China unveiled a huge arsenal of weapons – including nuclear missiles with a global reach – to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.<\/p>\n The display was not just a look at where China has been, or how far it has come \u2013 it was showcase of where the country is going.<\/p>\n Xi played the role of a global leader prepared to stand alongside two of the most sanctioned leaders in the world: Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And, at the Chinese leader’s feet, a military which is being built to rival the West.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The parade was a choreographed spectacle of precision, power and patriotism. Thousands of soldiers paraded equipment on Wednesday, demonstrating China’s military modernisation programme. <\/p>\n But one of the most enduring images of the parade took place before the first cannon was fired.<\/p>\n President Xi welcomed Kim with a long handshake, then moved on to greet Putin, before all three walked together to watch the parade.<\/p>\n This was the first time all three leaders have been seen in public together, and they really picked their moment.<\/p>\n Later, on the sidelines, Putin and Kim met, with Putin praising Pyongyang for sending soldiers to fight in Ukraine.<\/p>\n Putin and Kim joined 24 other dignitaries in China who had been invited to Beijing parade on behalf of Xi.<\/p>\n Former top leaders of China also stood at the Tiananmen viewing platform – but notably absent was former president Hu Jintao.<\/p>\n South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung did get an invitation, but turned it down. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – who met President Xi earlier this week<\/a> – was also not present.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Among the world leaders attending were Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif, Vietnam’s Luong Cuong and Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa.<\/p>\n Most Western leaders opted not to attend China’s “Victory Day” parade. <\/p>\n The two that did make the journey – Slovakia’s Robert Fico and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia – posed for photos with Putin after the main event.<\/p>\n They all watched on as around 50,000 spectators – all vetted in advance – attended the parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n President Xi inspected thousands of soldiers from different branches of the Chinese military who had gathered on Changan Avenue.<\/p>\n Laser weapons, robotic “wolves” and giant underwater nuclear drones were among new weapons on display.<\/p>\n China also showed off its stealth attack drones, dubbed the “loyal wingman”, as they are capable of flying alongside a manned fighter jet and aid it in its attacks.<\/p>\n Thousands of doves and balloons were later released into the skies above Tiananmen Square to mark the end of the parade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Guests then enjoyed a lunch reception at the Great Hall of the People and could choose between a red or white Chinese wine. <\/p>\n President Xi gave a toast to say the world must “never return to the law of the jungle”<\/p>\n He did not address any Western nations specifically in his five-minute speech, but Chinese officials have previously called the US a “bully” for its imposition of tariffs on countries around the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n Xi added: “We sincerely hope that all countries will draw lessons from history, value peace and work together to… create a brighter future for humanity”.<\/p>\n He concluded by toasting to “common prosperity for all humankind”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Putin and Kim then held bilateral talks at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in a meeting which lasted two-and-a-half hours.<\/p>\n The pair discussed North Korea’s contribution in the Ukraine war and reflected on an agreement struck last June between the two nations<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is now estimated that up to 15,000 thousand North Korean troops have joined Russian soldiers on the front lines in Ukraine. <\/p>\n North Korea has also supplied Russia with ammunition. In exchange, North Korea is believed to have received money and help with weapons development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It was the meeting between Xi, Kim and Putin, not just the weapons and troops on show, that appears to have grabbed the attention of Donald Trump.<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/b340\/live\/e9200b40-88a8-11f0-8b3f-67b2e7d47fb0.jpg.webp\")
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20250828-055926-c20c0c03f5-2.28.1-2\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Reuters](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/22c7\/live\/9c3bf130-88a9-11f0-aa06-3df3b9ae7236.png.webp\")
Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Reuters](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4ba3\/live\/188c2160-88aa-11f0-aa06-3df3b9ae7236.png.webp\")
Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n