Apart from Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Russian leader, the event will be attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the heads of states and governments of 24 other countries

The gathering in Beijing will include the leaders of Russia and North Korea, along with the Iranian president, a grouping dubbed the axis of upheaval

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un departed Pyongyang on Monday to attend a military parade in Beijing to celebrate victory over the Axis powers 80 years ago.