By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - China has finally kicked off the spectacle to mark the 70th anniversary of victory of the "Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War" on Thursday at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The event is China's official announcement to the world that it has become a superpower equal to the United States.  

China's President Xi Jinping awards medals to World War II veterans during an awards ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Beijing on September 2./ Source from Xinhua News Agency

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Taking together Sept. 2 reports of China's state-run media outlets including Xinhua News Agency, major world leaders, delegations, diplomatic envoys as well as international organization heads have arrived to Beijing for the military parade. Chinese President Xi Jinping held summit talks with heads of state who've arrived for the event, garnering attention. What's more catching attention is the meeting with President Park Geun-hye. Xi and Park held a luncheon meeting following their summit, which is an unusual move that underscores China's special hospitality toward Park. The two leaders reportedly talked about how to move forward bilateral relations and how to deal with North Korea and other regional issues.

In addition, Xi Jinping met Russian President Vladimir Putin and reminded that China's V-day event is an international event that the world should pay attention to. Xi also met with Laotian President and Papua New Guinea Governor and discussed to work more closely through the Silk Road initiative. Looking at this, it seems China has accomplished its intended goal. People's University professor Fang Changping, convinced that the event will succeed, said, "It's too bad that Japan and the US won't be present, but there wasn't great anticipation from the start. It looks fine."

Preparations for 12,000 Chinese troops that will take part in the military parade, the highlight of the event, are done already. They are stationed at People's Liberation Army camps near Beijing, waiting for the event. China's latest weapons to be showcased for the first time since its 60's founding anniversary on October 1 in 2009 are all ready for action.

Chinese authorities are pulling out all the stops for the Thursday's event. Perhaps it's not an exaggeration to say there's nothing left but for the world to admire except the United States and Japan.