China celebrates 70th V-Day with gala parade 8 Photos . Updated: 03 Sep 2015, 12:08 PM IST Livemint Though major Western leaders stayed away, the V-Day parade was nothing short of a spectacle 1/8Military helicopters form the number “70” above a Chinese national flag as they perform during the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China. Reuters 2/8Visitors to Tiananmen Square walk past decorations set up ahead of the massive military parade. The parade celebrates Japan’s surrender in World War II, and demonstrates some 500 units of China’s military hardware, accompanied by 12,000 troops. AP 3/8China’s President Xi Jinping presents a commemorative medal to a veteran Shi Baodong. A total of 30 veterans who made a contribution to Chinese victory, were awarded medals by the Chinese president on Wednesday. Reuters 4/8Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) with guests Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye (L, in yellow). AFP 5/8Soldiers march in a military parade in Tiananmen Square. China kicked off a huge military ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II on Thursday as major Western leaders stayed away. AFP 6/8China’s People’s Liberation Army navy soldiers stand on armoured vehicles during the military parade. Reuters 7/8Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Pakistan’s president Mamnoon Hussain (L) before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. The Pakistani president is in China to attend the military parade. AFP 8/8Colourful balloons are released at the end of the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Reuters