Cambodian King Attends Victory Day Parade in Beijing

BEIJING (Sept.03,2025) — Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni joined foreign leaders and dignitaries Sept. 3 at a Victory Day parade through Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Japan’s defeat.

Invited by the Chinese government, heads of parliaments, deputy prime ministers, high-level representatives from various countries, leaders of international organizations and former political figures gathered for the commemorations.

Among the foreign leaders in attendance were Russian President Vladimir Putin; North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs Commission; Vietnamese President Luong Cuong; Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim; and King Sihamoni.

Columns of marching troops, armored convoys and fighter jets thundered through and above Tiananmen Square in a tightly choreographed display. The event served both as a tribute to wartime sacrifice and a showcase of China’s military modernization and national resolve.

The presence of numerous foreign leaders underscored China’s diplomatic reach, though Western leaders were notably absent amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, dressed in a gray Mao suit, presided over the ceremony alongside top officials. Speaking from the Tiananmen rostrum, Xi honored China’s wartime sacrifices and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to sovereignty and peace.

“Today, humanity once again faces a choice: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, mutual benefit or zero-sum rivalry,” Xi said in a speech lasting about seven minutes.

His remarks came as conflicts continue in Ukraine and the Middle East, and as global divisions deepen, with Beijing criticizing what it views as Washington’s increasingly unilateral approach.

Xi reiterated China’s dedication to peaceful development.

“We will work hand in hand with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind,” he said.

The parade commemorated the 1945 victory over imperial Japan in what China refers to as the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.