International Desk //

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing. This will be their first public appearance together with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling their united stand against Western pressure.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that 26 foreign heads of state and government will participate in the parade next week. However, no Western leaders have been invited. Only Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been invited. He is a leader of a European Union member state.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the ‘Victory Day’ parade is being held to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s war against Japan and the end of World War II. China is expected to display its latest military equipment, including hundreds of aircraft, tanks and anti-drone systems, in the parade. This will be a full-scale demonstration of their new military power structure.

The meeting of the three leaders in China may be of concern to Western countries.

The event will not only convey a message of solidarity between China and the Global South, but also show strong solidarity with Russia and North Korea, which are under sanctions.

Beijing considers Russia a strategic partner. Russia has been devastated by a series of sanctions from Western countries since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its economy is in a slump. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin. The same is true of North Korea. Kim Jong Un is a formal treaty ally of China. It has been under UN Security Council sanctions since 2006 due to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Putin last met the Chinese president in May this year. Xi Jinping visited Moscow for a few days at the invitation of Russia’s Victory Day. This time, Putin is going to China to discuss some important issues. Russian media reported that Putin will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Pro-Kremlin commentator Pavel Zarubin said that Putin is going to China on a four-day visit. “Large-scale talks are planned during the visit.” However, what will be discussed has not been disclosed.

RT International reported that Putin will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit during the visit. The summit will run from August 31 to September 1. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Bin recently said that the summit will be attended by heads of the country’s regions, heads of 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations. However, it is not yet certain whether Putin will be there.

RT reported that the Chinese president is holding several meetings at the same time on the banks of the Hai River. During this time, Xi Jinping will talk to global leaders and their representatives. North Korean President Kim last visited China in January 2019.

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