Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday inspected troops along Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, as part of a grand military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Standing in a Hongqi limousine, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, gave the order to Han Shengyan, commander-in-chief of the military parade, to start the inspection.
The review vehicle moved slowly eastward, before briefly stopping as Xi paid a salute to the CPC flag, the Chinese national flag and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) flag which were held aloft before the assembled troops.
Amid resounding military music, Xi inspected foot, banner and armament formations along Chang'an Avenue.
Xi greeted the formations of troops, who in turn hailed to the president with "We serve the people".
As the review vehicle drove back to the Tian'anmen Rostrum, the servicemen and servicewomen saluted Xi and chanted with one voice "Follow the Party's command! Fight to win! Forge exemplary conduct!" and "Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail!"
Prior to the inspection, Xi addressed the grand gathering.
A total of 45 formations and echelons are joining the grand parade.
China designated Sept 3 as Victory Day to mark the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept 2, 1945.
The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the first to break out and lasted the longest in the World Anti-Fascist War, resulting in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties from 1931 to 1945.
President Xi inspects formations of V-Day military parade
