The military parade

Putin-Kim bilateral in Beijing. Xi: 'Choose between peace and war'

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Chinese celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II

3 September 2025

Il presidente cinese Xi Jinping tra il leader nordcoreano Kim Jong Un e il presidente russo Vladimir Putin al termine della parata militare che ha celebrato gli 80 anni dalla fine della Seconda guerra mondiale

3' min read

from our correspondent

NEW DELHI - Chinese celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II gave Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a chance to talk face to face again. After witnessing the military parade in Tiananmen Square, Putin and Kim walked away towards the venue of their bilateral meeting protected by the privacy of the Russian president's limousine, in a remake of what happened on Monday in Tianjin, when the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took advantage of the ride.

In front of the press, Putin praised the "courage and heroism" of the North Korean soldiers who fought alongside the Russian military "against the modern Nazism" that Moscow propaganda identifies with Ukrainian democracy. Kim emphasised that cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has "significantly strengthened" since the signing last year of the strategic partnership between the two countries. The North Korean leader also explained that he considers it "a brotherly duty and obligation to do whatever is necessary for the Russian people".

The trip to China has historical significance for the North Korean regime. Not only because it is Kim Jong Un's first participation in a major multilateral event since he succeeded his father Kim Jong Il 14 years ago. But also because it had never happened before that the 41-year-old North Korean leader was simultaneously with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. As Russian academic Andrei Lankov explains in his book 'The Real North Korea', the Pyongyang regime historically enjoys Russian or Chinese support on and off, never simultaneously. The trip to China also gave Kim the opportunity to 'debut' his daughter - a 12-13 year old girl who is supposed to be called Ju Ae - who at this point is considered the most likely candidate for the succession.

The meeting between Putine Kim came just hours after a speech in which Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to reiterate the depth of divisions across the world.

"Today humanity is faced with a choice between peace and war, dialogue or confrontation, benefits for all or none," said Xi in front of an impressive military parade that seemed to plastically underline both the concept and, more importantly, its implications. Not least because the words were uttered at the end of an unprecedented four days during which Xi greeted one by one all the major antagonists of Donald Trump's America, making deals, extending loans, offering protection and above all foreshadowing the birth of a new world order to counter US hegemony.

The celebrations for the end of the World War II - which in China means above all the end of Japanese expansionism in Asia, not necessarily at the hands of the United States - are destined to be remembered for their size, for the absences and above all for the attendance in the gallery reserved for the authorities.

Wednesday's military parade was the largest ever in China, a country that has never been shy about showing its growing military power to the world in recent years. No Western leaders of weight attended the parade of soldiers, tanks and missile launchers, and representatives ofIndia, Japan and South Korea were also absent.

The guests of honour were Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, two of the figures most disliked by the West, one for having invaded Ukraine, bringing war back to Europe, the other for the threats with which he has for years accompanied the progress of his country's missile and nuclear programmes.

Despite this, addressing the 50,000 spectators present, Xi explained that the Chinese 'are firmly on the right side of history'. A little later, in the sky that until a short while before had been criss-crossed by fighters, drones, bombers and helicopter gunships, 80,000 peace doves were released.

The Chinese display of strength inevitably did not go unnoticed in the United States. Despite previously stating that he did not see the planned military parade in Beijing as a challenge to his own country, President Trump wrote, allegedly to the Chinese leadership, on his social Truth: 'Please extend my warmest greetings to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you plot against the United States of America.

Marco MasciagaCorrispondente da New Delhi
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Luogo: New Delhi
Lingue parlate: Italiano, inglese
Argomenti: Asia del Sud
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