North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attending a military parade in central Beijing alongside Russian president Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping is not just a striking image — it is also a diplomatic triumph for Xi.
For years, the Chinese leader has been positioning Beijing not only as the world’s second-largest economy but also as a global diplomatic heavyweight. By welcoming both Kim and Putin, Xi is reinforcing China’s influence in international affairs while signalling that he may hold the geopolitical cards in ongoing global negotiations.
The parade, set for 3 September, marks 80 years since Japan’s surrender in World War Two, ending its occupation of parts of China. But beyond military display, Xi has turned it into a showcase of his political clout.
With Trump considering a regional visit later in October and leaving the door open for a meeting, Xi’s interactions with both Kim and Putin place him in a unique position to influence discussions ranging from trade and tariffs to the war in Ukraine.
Kim’s attendance is particularly significant. The last time a North Korean leader joined a Chinese military parade was in 1959.
His presence comes at a time when North Korea faces renewed global condemnation for its weapons programme and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Still, Beijing remains Pyongyang’s economic lifeline, providing nearly 90% of its food imports, and the visit highlights that the China–North Korea relationship remains vital.
Xi’s diplomatic leverage is now twofold: his ties with Moscow and Pyongyang, and his ongoing negotiations with Washington. Analysts suggest his ability to facilitate dialogue — especially after previously helping Trump open talks with Kim Jong Un in 2018 — could again be crucial.
At the same time, his position on Ukraine, where China has publicly called for peace while being accused of quietly aiding Russia, places him at the centre of global debate.
As the U.S. and China continue talks to prevent a trade war, Xi is strengthening his hand before any potential summit with Trump. His visible partnership with Putin and Kim underscores a larger question on the world stage: could there eventually be a meeting between Xi, Putin, Kim, and Trump?
For Xi, hosting both Kim and Putin is a signal to Washington that Beijing cannot be sidelined in shaping solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conflicts.
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