Xi Jinping leads Beijing parade displaying China’s military power

Xi Jinping leads Beijing parade displaying China’s military power.

China has showcased its latest military hardware in a huge Beijing parade, watched by world leaders including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Members of the public gathered from the crack of dawn on Wednesday at the capital’s Tiananmen Square – the entrance gate of the historical Forbidden City and the focal point of President Xi Jinping’s show of force to the world.

Guests posed with wide smiles for photos with their parade invitations against the backdrop of Tiananmen, which was adorned with national flags of China and thousands of red and green seats set up for the occasion.

Giant, golden numerals “1945” and “2025” were erected on the square – a reminder of the 80 years that have passed since the end of World War II and Japan’s surrender.

Military bands blasted their trumpets in unison as soldiers marched in the square.

In rarely seen moments, Xi was pictured shaking hands and chatting with Kim and Putin as they walked over for a group photograph with the other foreign leaders.

Dressed in a dark grey Mao suit, Xi stood in an open-topped black limousine as it drove past troops standing at attention along the wide Chang’an Avenue.