Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in BEIJING, China
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday joined 26 world leaders at Tiananmen Square here for China’s 80th Victory Day parade, with the Asian country committing to multilateralism based on mutual benefit and respect.
The commemorative event fused solemn remembrance with the spectacle of military strength, with China showcasing a wide range of advanced weaponry designed to strengthen its air, sea and ground combat capabilities.
President Mnangagwa’s attendance at the celebrations reflects the enduring solidarity between Zimbabwe and China during the country’s liberation struggle when the Asian powerhouse was a critical source of support.
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s event, President Mnangagwa said China remains Zimbabwe’s foremost ally, stressing that relations between the two nations must be preserved and strengthened.
Speaking during a visit to the Zimbabwean Embassy here on Tuesday, President Mnangagwa recalled his first visit to China, when he led the first group of Zanla fighters for military training at the Nanjing Army Command College in Jiangsu in 1964.
“Our relations with the People’s Republic of China date back to the days of our struggle. These relations show that we have a cherished relationship, which, for some of you who were young, we were trained here.
“We were the first group of Zanla fighters to be trained here and since that time, we have had a very close relationship with the People’s Republic of China, both on the political and economic level. So, I am their military product,” said the President in an address to the Zimbabwe Embassy staff.
He said the relationship between Zimbabwe and China was strong.
“I am saying this just to show that our relationship with the People’s Republic of China is quite historical, they supported our liberation struggle and we were the first trained cadres from Southern Rhodesia at the time. China is on the list of those countries we regard as our close friends.”
Other leaders who attended the event were Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, among other leaders.
The 80th anniversary of victory over fascism was not merely about remembering history but an affirmation of China’s place as a modern powerhouse with global reach.
In his keynote address, President Xi Jinping, flanked by senior Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders, emphasised China’s dual commitment to peace and strength.
“We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development and join hands with all peoples around the world in building a community with a shared future for humanity,” he said.
President Xi reiterated that common security can only be safeguarded when nations across the world treat each other as equals, live in harmony and mutually support each other.
Reflecting on the victory against fascism, President Xi said with huge national sacrifice, the Chinese people had made “major contributions to serving human civilisation and safeguarding world peace.”
Tiananmen Square was once again a theatre of memory and the future.
Standing in a Hongqi limousine, President Xi inspected formations of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), saluting the fluttering flags of the country, party and the armed forces.
Columns of soldiers marched past in precision, interspersed with banner formations honouring 80 heroic units from the resistance war.
Above, air echelons roared across Beijing’s skies, with one formation of 26 helicopters forming the numbers “8” and “0” to symbolise the anniversary.
Others carried banners declaring “Justice prevails”, “Peace prevails”, and “The people prevail”.
The celebrations provided China an opportunity to showcase its growing military sophistication, with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) parading an array of advanced weaponry that drew global attention.
At the forefront was a formation of electronic countermeasure systems, five types of equipment designed for aerial and space defence, disabling enemy networks and breaking digital chains.
The systems highlighted China’s focus on cyber and information warfare in contemporary conflict.
China also unveiled its anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems comprising a missile-gun integrated platform, high-energy laser weapons and high-power microwave technology.
Together, the three form what officials described as a “powerful shield” against drone incursions, an acknowledgement of the centrality of UAVs in modern warfare.
Air defence capabilities took centre stage with the HongQi-20, HongQi-19 and HongQi-29 missile systems, which provide multi-layered protection through long, medium and short-range interception.
These were complemented by four types of carrier-based air defence equipment, extending protective coverage to China’s expanding naval forces.
The PLA also rolled out its hypersonic arsenal, including the YingJi-19, YingJi-17, YingJi-20 and YingJi-15 anti-ship missiles.
Travelling at extreme speeds, these weapons are designed to evade interception and reinforce Beijing’s maritime power projection. Their appearance in the parade was seen as both a demonstration of technological prowess and a signal of deterrence to potential adversaries.
On ground firepower, the formation of 191 long-range rocket artillery systems, box-shaped and imposing, rolled through Tiananmen Square.
These are capable of tactical support and large-scale battlefield strikes, expanding the reach of ground combat operations.
Following them were the PLA’s new-generation Type-100 tanks and fighting vehicles, reflecting advances in mobility, armour and strike capacity for land warfare.
The parade also showcased the diverse branches of the Chinese military, the PLA Air Force formation, tracing its lineage to historic battles of the resistance war.
The PLA Rocket Force, the core of China’s strategic deterrence since its re-designation in 2015, underscored the country’s growing emphasis on missile capabilities. Naval formations, too, highlighted the PLA’s ambition to build a world-class blue-water navy.
Meanwhile, senior executives from China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at his hotel yesterday afternoon.
The engagement was part of a series of high-level meetings by President Mnangagwa since his arrival here on Monday to strengthen relations with China and advance economic diplomacy.
Today, the President will hold bilateral talks with President Xi and the two leaders are expected to engage in discussions to strengthen bilateral relations and expand areas of cooperation.
