31.08.2015.

Serbian guardsmen in Tiananmen Square

After the Red Square, the Serbian guardsmen are ready for the Tiananmen. For more than two weeks, alongside soldiers from 16 other countries, they have been carrying out final preparations before the grand parade by which the People's Republic of China is to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory over fascism and the victory in the Liberation War of the Chinese people against Japan.

The host provided multi-day preparations for the visiting sub-echelons in order to be fully ready for the big day. After a period of accommodation to the time difference and different climate, 17 foreign sub-echelons, including the one of ours, "caught" a step with Chinese counterparts so that everything is perfect on 3rd September.

According to the head of the Serbian delegation, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Vukajlovic, the guardsmen raised their shape to the highest possible level; so there is no doubt that our guys will present Serbia and the Serbian Armed Forces to China and the world in the right light.

- After serious preparations in Belgrade, the guardsmen continued their practicing at the same pace also here. We got rhythm, we know what is expected of us and we are ready to show that, Lieutenant Vukajlovic says noting that after the parade "Step of the Winners" and the one that has been recently held in Moscow, our guardsmen have rich experience, which will be completed with the parade in Beijing.

The commander of the Guards Battalion and the National Echelon of the Serbian Armed Forces Major Marko Marjanovic said that our sub-echelon showed at the general rehearsal that they are up to the task, which could be largely credited to the excellent conditions provided by the host in the Chinese capital.

- Since our military step is slightly more demanding than that of the others and requires far greater effort, we arrived to Beijing well prepared. I have no doubt that we will show our best outlook in the Tiananmen Square, Marjanovic says noting that when it comes to the Guard, there is no room for errors.

On the day of the parade, 67 infantry, motor and aviation sub-echelons will march on the Beijing's most famous square, and among 17 foreign flags, the Serbian flag will be flaunting in the hands of Major Vladan Djirovic. On that day, more than 12,000 officers, NCOs and soldiers will be marching on the Tiananmen Square after which the latest Chinese weapons and military equipment will rumble by. According to the organizers, more than 80 percent of arms and military equipment will be presented to the public for the first time.

Among almost 1,000 foreign participants in the parade from Russia, Belarus, Egypt, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, Vanuatu and Venezuela, the Serbian blue sub-echelon of 75 guardsmen will march on the largest square in the world with a military step which is characteristic just for us. With a slightly slower clock speed parade march of the Chinese military band, our guys will represent Serbia at the biggest parade ever.

The hosts are completing their final preparations of the capital, so that everything is perfect on the day of the parade. The Tiananmen Square is richly decorated, the stage with about 30,000 seats has been set, and the traffic around the square is reduced as of today.