Focus Shifts to 'Victory Day'... World Leaders Head to Beijing

Leaders Conclude SCO Summit
Moving from Tianjin to Beijing
Putin's Arrival Still Uncertain...
Contrasting Attitudes from Hong Kong and Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping is taking a commemorative photo with the heads of state and representatives of various countries attending the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Tianjin, China, on the 1st. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

The heads of state who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, are now steadily moving to Beijing to attend China's Victory Day military parade.

According to the Chinese state-run Global Times on September 2, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh of Mongolia, and President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan all arrived in Beijing by high-speed train on the evening of the previous day.

After attending the SCO summit, these leaders are scheduled to observe the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War (Victory Day) on the morning of September 3. There has not yet been any mention regarding the movements of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, who is a key foreign guest.

Meanwhile, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un also departed Pyongyang by special train the previous day and crossed the North Korea-China border on this day. He is expected to arrive in Beijing in the afternoon. North Korea's official radio, Korean Central Broadcasting, reported, "Comrade Kim Jong Un departed Pyongyang by special train on September 1 to attend the 'Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Commemorative Event,'" adding, "The special train crossed the border in the early morning of September 2."

As foreign leaders continue to arrive, it is also noteworthy that Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is scheduled to visit Beijing with a large delegation of 360 members to attend the event. In contrast, the Taiwanese government, led by President Lai Ching-te, who has a pro-independence stance, is reportedly taking a strong position against the event, even issuing an internal order prohibiting participation in the parade.

Meanwhile, Xinhua News Agency and CCTV reported the previous day that the 80th anniversary ceremony commemorating China's victory over Japan in World War II will be held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3. Heads of state and government leaders from 26 countries have been invited to this year's parade.