President Xi Jinping welcomes 26 heads of state including Russian president, North Korean leader upon their arrival in Tiananmen Square

By Islamuddin Sajid

ANKARA (AA) - China’s largest-ever military parade began early Wednesday in Beijing, showcasing the country’s growing military might as President Xi Jinping welcomed heads of state including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The event is being broadcast live by the state-run CGTN news channel in Tiananmen Square, where thousands of spectators have gathered.

The celebrations opened with a volley of gun salutes.

Ahead of the event, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan greeted world leaders upon their arrival at the venue before walking alongside Putin, Kim and other leaders to the rostrum.

Xi delivered a speech during the parade.

Putin arrived in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Aug. 31 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit before traveling to Beijing, while Kim arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday aboard his armored train, marking his first participation in a multilateral event since taking power in 2011.

The parade featured marching formations, armored columns, aerial flyovers and performances by hundreds of musicians.

Twenty-six helicopters flew in formation over the parade venue carrying banners saying "justice will prevail, peace will prevail and people will prevail."

China displayed not only its traditional battle forces but also new-generation military capabilities, including unmanned systems, cyber and electronic warfare tools, underwater combat equipment and hypersonic weapons—all domestically produced.

Thousands of troops and more than 100 aircraft took part in the parade, which also showcased drones, tanks, missiles, fighter jets and other advanced weaponry.

Some 45 echelons, including the Strategic Rocket Force, participated in the parade besides a showcase of Chinese weaponry, most of which was made public for the first time.

KJ-600 carrier-based early warning aircraft as well as the two-seat J-20S fighter jet made their debut.

China’s strategic nuclear deterrence capabilities were also showcased during the parade while the military's aerospace, cyberspace and information support forces also made their debut.

China commemorates the end of World War II as the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The last major military parade marking the occasion was held in 2015.

Among other leaders in attendance were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

According to renowned British commentator Martin Jacques, the scale of losses by the Chinese during World War II is "often forgotten and is not known in the West."

He said millions died during the war, "which is huge."

"This celebration of victory is extremely important," Jacques told Anadolu. "It is important to recall major victories against fascism and far-right extremism."

"To celebrate and remember history is to remind us that it can happen again," he said. "It is a very important signal that the majority of humanity is against aggression and against bullying and any repeats of military adventurism."