Awe and peace: As world witnesses massive display of military power in Beijing, Xi Jinping vows to cut 300,000 troops and peaceful intent

President Xi Jinping said on Thursday he would cut military personnel by 300,000 – twice the size of the British armed forces – by 2017, shortly before presiding over an unprecedented parade laden with symbolism and messages.

The parade to commemorate China’s victory against Japanese aggression in the second world war was groundbreaking in many ways.

It was the first parade China had held for a war anniversary and the first with foreign participation. It was also the first time Xi had reviewed troops as head of state and delivered a speech atop the Tiananmen Rostrum.

The scale of the event dwarfed all those before it. Some 12,000 soldiers, 50 generals, 500 pieces of military hardware and nearly 200 aircraft went before the Tiananmen Square audience, which included a comprehensive list of current and retired top leaders.

READ MORE: China demonstrates its military might with war parade, as observers say President Xi Jinping plans to boost PLA's combat ability

Dressed in the slate-grey, high-buttoned Chinese suit named after Kuomintang founder Sun Yat-sen and favoured by Communist founder Mao Zedong, a stern-looking Xi inspected the troops in his purpose-made Red Flag limousine. Fifty generals then led 50 Chinese formations down Changan Avenue, followed by phalanxes from 17 countries.