Russian soldiers in Beijing for parade rehearsal

Soldiers from Russia's 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's regiment has arrived in Beijing to join the joint rehearsal for the Sept. 3 parade on Tian'anmen Square, Russian media reported.

Beijing will hold a military parade on Sept. 3 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. World leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have been invited to attend the event.

The Russian soldiers, 85 in all, will stay at a military area in the Changping District of Beijing and will join training immediately upon arrival, Russian RIA Novosti news agency quoted sources from Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying.

The 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's regiment was formed in 1979. Since then, its guard of honor has participated in every military parade on Moscow's Red Square.

The guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) had attended the May 9 parade on Red Square marking the 70 anniversary of the victory of Russia's Great Patriotic War.