China announced on Tuesday that it will stage a major military parade on September 3 to mark 80 years since victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

President Xi Jinping will attend the event at Tiananmen Square in Beijing and deliver a speech, a senior military official said at a news conference.

"The Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission have decided to hold a grand military parade at Tiananmen in the capital on September 3 this year," Wu Zeke from China's military commission said.

"Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, will inspect the troops."

Xinhua news agency said the parade would feature "marching formations, armored columns, and aerial echelons, and display new types of combat forces, including unmanned, intelligent equipment."

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend, while other world leaders are also expected at the anniversary commemorations.

In 2015, China put on a huge parade with a 70-gun salute and thousands of troops marching in tight formation through Tiananmen Square.

Tanks and missiles followed, while nearly 200 aircraft performed a flypast in powder-blue skies. (Xinhua/AFP)
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Last updated: 2025-06-24 HKT 11:22