The leaders of 26 countries and other foreign representatives have joined Chinese President Xi Jinping to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a military parade in the Chinese capital, in a show of solidarity among nations friendly to Beijing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who made a rare foreign trip to attend, flanked Xi on Wednesday as they climbed to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square and watched the display of military hardware and marching troops.

Observers say the joint appearance was a show of unity against the United States.

Leaders from the US, western Europe, Japan and India were not present at the event, and countries such as South Korea and Singapore sent lower-level officials.

But Xi's guest list

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