Fried Rice, Mango Mousse Cake To Wine: What Was On The Menu For World Leaders In Beijing?

Last Updated:September 03, 2025, 16:13 IST

From the menu to the attendees, here’s all you need to know about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday

World leaders at the Chinese military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on Wednesday. (AP)

The display at the Chinese military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two was grand – missiles, laser weapons to drones. Then came the lavish lunch.

From the menu to the attendees, here’s all you need to know about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping walked the red carpet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before reviewing tens of thousands of troops at Tiananmen Square. Jinping welcomed fellow world leaders for lunch at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The menu at Chinese parade

Hong Kong-based state-linked newspaper Wen Wei Po said “the spread blended Chinese culinary tradition with global flavours".

The FirstPost quoted the menu as:

• Chicken soup with conch meat and lily bulbs
• Roasted lamb chops
• Stir-fried lobster with crab meat
• Roe and egg white
• A clear scallop consommé with assorted mushrooms
• Roasted salt-marinated salmon with creamy mustard sauce
• Fried rice, pea cake, and a mango mousse cake for dessert.
• Wine: Syrah or Riesling – both produced by the Chinese winemaker Great Wall in Hebei province.

Xi Jinping’s toast

The FirstPost, quoting agencies, said Xi gave a five-minute speech before raising his glass.

“Eighty years ago, after 14 years of bloody struggle, the Chinese people completely defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors and declared the final victory of the World Anti-Fascist War," he said.

“This was a historic turning point for the Chinese nation, marking the shift from a period of deep national crisis toward great national rejuvenation. It was also a major turning point in the development of the world."

Who all were present?

The Associated Press reported that leaders of 26 countries joined Chinese President Xi Jinping. Putin and Kim Jong Un, who made a rare foreign trip to attend, flanked Xi as they ascended 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 skipped the event and countries like South Korea and Singapore sent lower-level officials.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russia’s close ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was there too. Other leaders from South and Central Asia attended, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kazakhstan president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Republic of Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso were also on the guest list.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was the only leader from the Americas to attend.

With inputs from AP, Reuters

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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First Published:

September 03, 2025, 15:59 IST

News explainers Fried Rice, Mango Mousse Cake To Wine: What Was On The Menu For World Leaders In Beijing?

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