As Moscow prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II on May 9, Red Square becomes more than a backdrop. Amid shifting geopolitics and competing narratives, what does solemn remembrance say about where we are, and where we are headed?

In this documentary, Meet Me in Moscow, Xinhua's Miao Xiaojuan speaks with local scholars and journalists to explore memory, loss, and hope. Their voices offer a glimpse into a shared past and a future still being shaped for Russia, for China, and for the world.

Excerpt: Early May in Moscow, rain and snow one moment, sunshine the next, much like the world we live in today. Across this mega city, preparations are underway for commemoration of the 80th Victory Day.

Amid shifting geopolitics and competing narratives, what does solemn remembrance say about where we are and where we are headed?

I’ve met four friends here, in the iconic Red Square. At the thought-provoking Victory Museum, one friend finds Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin who was a volunteer in the first days of the war. Outside a renowned school of diplomacy, it’s all about the 80th anniversary of the victory, 1945-2025. And in the most open place for all, a private home filled with warmth, he finds his wife’s father and his medals. But, I’m here to hear their stories and perspectives from Moscow to the world.

* A Miao Xiaojuan Studio Film

* A Xinhua News Agency Production

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