Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the “unprecedented” level reached in relations between his country and China during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived yesterday.

This comes on the eve of a massive military parade held by Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, reflecting its growing military capabilities, with more than 20 world leaders invited to attend.

The meeting between Xi and Putin took place after the Chinese city of Tianjin hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, during which the two presidents sharply criticized the West.

Putin told his Chinese counterpart in yesterday’s talks: “Our close communication reflects the strategic nature of Russia-China relations, which have now reached an unprecedented level.”

He added: “We have always been together, and we are together now,” implicitly referring to the rapprochement between the two countries since the start of the Russian war on Ukraine in early 2022.

For his part, the Chinese president told his guest that the relations between the two countries “have withstood international changes,” affirming Beijing’s readiness to work with Moscow “to promote a fairer and more equitable international governance system.”

Today, China is hosting a massive parade commemorating the end of World War II with broad international attendance, expected to unveil a range of new weapons in a show of force seen as a challenge to U.S. military dominance.

Authorities in Beijing have significantly tightened security measures, with soldiers deployed at bridges and intersections, iron barriers placed along main avenues and roads, and streets closed to traffic.

Presidents Xi and Putin directed sharp criticisms at the West during the opening of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit the day before yesterday.

Russian state media reported yesterday that the giant energy group Gazprom signed an agreement with the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation to increase Beijing’s imports of Russian gas by about 15%.

Communication between the Chinese and Russian presidents has become almost routine recently, with Xi praising Moscow and Washington’s efforts to improve relations last month following the summit between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in mid-August.