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China’s parade is designed to project capability, while its pipeline deal with Russia projects supply security.
Putin called the relationship at a peak, reinforcing energy and political bonds with Beijing.
Kim Jong-un’s attendance, alongside Kim Ju-ae, places North Korea in a prominent supporting role.
Putin’s outreach to Robert Fico shows the Kremlin courting sympathetic European voices on Ukraine and energy.
Visa-free access and a cascade of agreements suggest a widening corridor between the two giants.