Updated On: 03 September, 2025 06:33 PM IST | Asif Ali Sayed
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia`s Vladimir Putin flanked Xi Jinping at a massive parade of military might in Beijing on Wednesday. Pics/AFP

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The event, ostensibly to mark 80 years since the end of World War II, was a chance for Xi to put on an extravaganza to showcase China`s military prowess and bring together friendly leaders to send a message to the rest of the world
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Kicking off the parade, President Xi warned the world was still "faced with a choice of peace or war", but said China was "unstoppable"

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All eyes were on how the trio of Xi, Putin and Kim -- who rarely leaves secretive North Korea -- interacted with each other
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Security around Beijing was tightened, with road closures, military personnel stationed on bridges and street corners, and miles upon miles of white barriers lining the capital`s wide boulevards

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Putin and Kim held talks after Wednesday`s parade, during which the Russian president thanked Kim for deployments of North Korean soldiers to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine
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