Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has been seen shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping prior to the nation’s grand military parade.
The parade, which boasts other guests including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Andrews was accompanied by former NSW premier and foreign minister Bob Carr.
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The two are reported to be among the 10,000 strong crowd watching the event in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
The former politicians, who have a record of forging links with China, are attending in a personal capacity.
The parade will showcase China’s newest warfighting kit, including hypersonic missiles, tanks, stealth fighters in a display of the communist ruled nation’s military arsenal.
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Analyst Neil Thomas, from the Asia Society Policy Institute think tank, told Today this morning the parade had drawn a “rogues’ gallery” of authoritarian world leaders, including North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He said the attendance of Carr and Daniels would likely bolster the Chinese government’s efforts to promote the event, and its claims China was the major force behind Japan’s defeat in World War II.
“They’re (Carr and Daniels) not representing Australia, although, of course, they did hold senior roles in state governments before.
“So it’s certainly the case that China is looking to use their participation to bolster the international reach and legitimacy of this parade.”
In addition to the North Korean and Russian dictators, the leaders of hardline regimes such as Iran and Belarus will also be watching the parade.
“The fact that the company you have at this parade is a rogues gallery of international leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un, it certainly doesn’t leave a good taste in your mouth,” Thomas said.
The federal government confirmed senior Australian officials will not be attending.
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