China commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing on Wednesday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping hosting more than two dozen foreign leaders at a military parade.

President Xi Jinping delivered an opening speech at a stand, before reviewing the troops in a limousine, periodically calling out, “Greetings, comrades!”

More than two dozen foreign leaders, including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, were at the venue site, according to a broadcast feed by state media, with Western leaders largely absent.

The heavily choreographed event is designed to showcase some of the country’s newest weapons and commemorates the country’s “victory against Japanese aggression and the world’s victory against fascism.”

The parade — one of its largest ever — featured missiles mounted on trucks, tanks, autonomous vehicles and other equipment rumbling past Tiananmen Square, soldiers goose-stepping in formation and fighter jets roaring over the capital, as China showcased its military prowess.

The parade ended with the release of 80,000 doves and an equal number of balloons in a visual spectacle symbolizing peace.

Catch some of the moments from the parade here:

CNBC’s Victoria Yeo contributed to this report.