03.09.2015.
Guardsmen of the Serbian Armed Forces at the parade in Beijing
Performance of the military choir of the People's Republic of China, honour artillery's 70-gun salute and playing the national anthem opened today in Beijing the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over fascism and the victory of the Chinese People in the Liberation War against Japan, with the participation of the Serbian Armed Forces Guardsmen. On the central platform, among many heads of state, the ceremony was followed by the President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic.On the largest square in the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that although the
Chinese Army grows into one of the leading military powers, it remains committed to keeping policy of friendship towards all, always choosing peace.With the sounds of the parade march, the infantry, motorized and aviation echelons paraded along Tiananmen. The first to pass along the Beijing's central square were veterans, followed by an infantry echelon. Simultaneous clump of army boots announced the arrival of 50 sub-echelons in which more than 12 thousand servicemen stepped as one. Ten sub-echelons of the Chinese Army passed along the central square, followed in step by members of 17 foreign delegations, 11 of which came in the formation of sub-echelon and the others came as colour guards. Among them there was the Serbian blue sub-echelon.
After Paris, Belgrade and Moscow, Serbian soldiers marched also in Beijing in honour of the victory over fascism and the liberation in the Second World War. While passing along the Beijing's central square, pointedly stepping the recognizable Serbian military step in ceremonial blue uniforms, our sub-echelon was followed all the time by ovations of the audience. On the Tiananmen Square, the flag of the Republic of Serbia was carried by Major Vladan Cirovic, closely followed by commanders Major Marko Marjanovic and Lieutenant Milos Zagorac.Viewers followed with great attention sub-echelons of the host with 11 thousand soldiers in its ranks who were preparing themselves for today's big parade day and night during the last six months. Even the most experienced military eye could not find any failure in them. It is not surprising, as they were planning the lining up for months practicing with the help of ropes connecting caps, noses, chins, arms and belts of the first and the last one in the row, while during the last week they marched down the runway until late at night.
Clump of the military step was replaced by the deafening roar, which announced the arrival of motorized echelons, including more than 500 pieces of equipment, most of which were displayed in public for the first time. The greatest attention was attracted by long-range missiles but also ZTZ-96A tank, infantry combat vehicle ZBD-04A, helicopter Z-16 and H-6K aircraft.
After the motorized echelon, more than 200 aircraft flew in the skies over the Chinese capital, among which there were modern combat aircraft. At the very beginning of the parade, helicopters, in honour of the anniversary, formed number 70 above the square.Great performance of our guardsmen in Beijing took several months to prepare partly in Belgrade and partly in the Chinese capital. They passed thousands of kilometres over the last few months – all with the military step. By their flawless performance, honourably
carrying Serbian flag, the guardsmen once again today made whole Serbia proud.Last year the People's Republic of China declared 3rd September a national holiday, and this year the big anniversary was marked by a parade. It is for the first time in the history of the Chinese army that they invited foreign soldiers to join them in the march which, in addition to the celebration of the victory over fascism, pays tribute to all the soldiers who gave their lives in that fight defending their fatherland. Today's parade is the fifteenth in a row that is prepared by China, and all the previous ones were organized on the National Day.
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