Putin calls for unity as WWII victory marked

PLA honor guards

Among them were 95 soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army honor guards who participated in the parade in formation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday that the USSR had made important contributions to the defeat of Nazi Germany, emerging as a major victorious power from World War II.

Russia's celebrations reflected its respect and remembrance of history, as well as its steadfast determination to safeguard the fruits of the victory in war, he said.

"China, also a major victorious nation of the war, stands ready to work with Russia and the international community, to continue to stick to the widely recognized view on history and stand against attempts at misrepresenting history in order to jointly safeguard the hard-won world peace," he said.

The parade had been originally scheduled for May 9, but was postponed due to the coronavirus.

The rate of new infections in Russia has fallen in recent weeks and cities including Moscow have lifted lockdowns.

The Kremlin said safety precautions had been taken in the lead-up to the parade, and the government advised people to watch the procession on television rather than go to Red Square.

Mo Jingxi in Beijing contributed to this story.