Leaders and high-ranking officials from nearly 50 countries are in attendance to celebrate the end of the Second World War. China is parading a variety of its latest military hardware, much of which has never before been revealed to the public. Nearly 12,000 servicemen are participating.
Formations from a number of other countries are also taking part.
Russia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Belarus, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, Vanuatu, and Venezuela have all sent soldiers to join in the commemoration.