Xi Jinping , flanked by Russia 's Vladimir Putin and North Korea 's Kim Jong Un , took the opportunity to show off the LY-1 shipborne laser weapon.

Lasers are expected to be at the forefront when the People’s Liberation Army removes the tarpaulin for a hi-tech military parade

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) parade in Beijing is scheduled for September 3 to commemorate 80 years since the end of the second world war.

Beyond the hype and shiny new weapons, here are our five takeaways from China's military parade.

Speaking during the spectacle in Beijing, China's President Xi Jinping said the world faced a choice between peace and war.

Xi Jinping , flanked by Russia 's Vladimir Putin and North Korea 's Kim Jong Un , took the opportunity to show off the LY-1 shipborne laser weapon.

Weapons procession offers rare window on how China is reshaping modern warfare.