By Li Chun, Xie Yanbing and Xie Ruiqiang
BEIJING, Oct. 30 -- The 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is being held at the Beijing International Convention Center between October 29 and 31. Since its inception in 2006, the forum has gradually developed into a high-profile defense and security dialogue platform of significant influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
This year's forum resumes offline after four years, with a higher appeal in the international community as its influence increases. More than 100 countries, regions and international organizations participated in the Forum. The participants, including more than 700 delegates and observers, reached more than 1,800. The number and level of participants hit a record high, with the participation of developing countries and international and regional organizations increasing significantly.
"One of the characteristics of this forum is to encourage representatives of developing countries, especially those from middle and small ones, to join and speak out in dialogues, and to provide them with a platform to express their concerns and appeals," said Lieutenant General He Lei of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.
The agendas of this forum keep abreast of the current international security reality, which not only focuses on the key and hot security issues of common concern, but also highlights the prioritized cooperation of the Global Security Initiative.
According to Senior Colonel Zhao Yufei, executive deputy secretary-general of the preparatory work committee of the forum, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum was included in the key platform mechanism for the implementation of the Global Security Initiative in the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper released in February 2023, and the theme of this forum also reflects the core concept of the initiative. "Diversified activities can enhance the sense of participation and inclusiveness for the participants and extend the breadth and depth of relevant discussions, contributing to promoting world peace and stability," Zhao said.
In the view of Piyal De Silva, former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, security forums are essential for maintaining global peace, stability, and security, as they promote cooperation and communication and seek practicable solutions to all security issues. These forums have a significant impact on the formation of a global security environment, and can also be used as diplomatic tools to encourage dialogues and explore peaceful settlement options in areas of disputes or tensions.
Recently, the interaction between China and the US has garnered concern worldwide. In this context, Cynthia Xanthi Carras, Country Director for China in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy of the US, led a delegation to attend the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which draws public attention to the contents of the exchanges between the two countries.
Lieutenant General He Lei said that all participating US official delegations, experts, and scholars of any level are guests that China welcomes.
In an interview with reporters on October 29, Lora L Saalman, a non-resident senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in Sweden, commented that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum provides a platform for all parties to share their different views and hear voices that are not often heard, and further expressed her hope that the US participants give greater consideration to alternative opinions, be it from developing or developed countries.