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In Pictures
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China’s National Day parade
China has marked the 60th anniversary of communist rule with a massive parade through the heart of Beijing [Reuters]
Published On 1 Oct 2009
1 Oct 2009
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The centrepiece of celebrations was a huge military parade by thousands of military personnel through Tiananmen Square [Reuters]
The parade was watched by Chinese leaders from the Tiananmen gate, where communist leader Mao Zedong declared the foundation of communist China [AFP]
Wearing a Mao-style suit, Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, reviewed the massed ranks of troops and weaponry from a limousine [Reuters]
The parade included a fly past by Chinese-made fighter jets, some of which were flown by the first recruits of female fighter pilots [AFP]
Divisions of women soldiers from the PLA joined the parade on the ground [Reuters]
Sailors from the increasingly powerful Chinese navy also took part in the parade [AFP]
The parade included advanced missiles, seen on public display for the first time [Reuters]
The display was designed as a showpiece to demonstrate the power and achievements of modern China [AFP]
But most ordinary Chinese were kept well away from the parade by tight security, having to watch the celebrations on TV instead [AFP]