The 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum logo is displayed at the Beijing International Conference Center, Oct. 31, 2023. [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn]

The 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum concluded on Tuesday with participants sharing their opinions on bolstering lasting peace, forming a general consensus on promoting the Global Security Initiative and jointly safeguarding peaceful development.

During the three-day event, over 1,800 participants, including members of 99 official delegations, defense ministers from 19 countries, as well as experts and scholars from China and abroad, focused their discussions on Asia-Pacific stability and peaceful development, the impact of regional conflicts on global security, major countries' responsibilities and global security cooperation, and the role of developing countries in global security.

Ng Eng Hen, minister of defense for Singapore, said in his speech that despite the differences between and difficulties facing many countries, it is still necessary to maintain contact in the fields of national defense and security to reduce miscalculations. He noted that in the next 10 years, conflict in Asia will be the biggest risk facing the world.

Said Intizar Khadim, director of the Afghanistan Center for Development and Peace Studies, told China.org.cn that he felt lucky enough to be able to attend the forum and talk about Afghanistan, its landscape and people's lives, since thousands of young people have had their future taken away by the war. "When a war occurs, you cannot predict the future and you will be at a loss," Khadim said.

Michael Swaine, research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in the United States, noted the need for all countries to commit to finding common ground when facing big issues such as climate change, public health issues, global financial dilemmas and regional conflict. "They all have to be willing to compromise and take concrete action," Swaine underscored. 

"I lived through a war in my country — the war between the African countries of Uganda and Tanzania from 1978 to 1979 was devastating and unfortunate," said Joseph Kahama, secretary general of the Tanzania China Friendship Promotion Association. He emphasized the importance of lasting peace by sharing his experience. "Even (though) I was little at that time, I can still feel that unrest. As a consequence, war is not something worth pursuing and should be avoided at all costs," he said.

The 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum also marks the first time in more than three years since the COVID-19 outbreak that this international high-end defense and security dialogue platform has been held in person. The number and level of participants at this year's Beijing Xiangshan Forum reached a record high, with the participation of international and regional organizations from developing countries in particular having increased significantly.

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)