China will stage a military parade to commemorate the end of World War II – the second time it has held the event – as conflicts rage around the world, including the latest between Iran and Israel.
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It will be held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3, a decade after the People’s Liberation Army first staged a Victory Day parade.
It is part of a ceremony marking 80 years since China defeated Japan and the global victory against fascism, Hu Heping, deputy head of the Communist Party’s publicity department, told reporters on Tuesday.
The parade, first reported by the South China Morning Post in February, will be watched closely for possible debuts of advanced new Chinese weapons.
The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China from August 31 to September 3 to attend the events, as well as hold talks with President Xi Jinping on September 2.
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is also expected to attend.
During a meeting in Beijing earlier this month, Xi also invited Lukashenko to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and military parade, according to Belarusian state news agency Belta.