By Guo Mingzhi and Wei Yin

The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum kicked off on Thursday at the Beijing International Convention Center and will last to Saturday. Wu Jiangang, head of the comprehensive coordination group of the forum's preparatory committee, provided an interpretation of the key features of the event.

Highlight I: New breakthroughs in terms of number and level of participants

More than 500 representatives of official delegations from more than 100 countries and international organizations, in addition to over 200 Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, attended the event. The participants include more than 30 defense ministers and military chiefs in official delegations, the Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Secretary-General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and representatives from international and regional organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). In addition, more than 30 former political figures and dozens of well-known scholars also attended the forum.

According to Wu, the number and level of participants have reached new heights, with an even broader representation. Since its establishment in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has gained more popularity in the international community and has gradually become a renowned high-end security and defense dialogue platform, an international public security product provided by China and shared by the world, and an important cooperative platform for advancing the Global Security Initiative(GSI).

Highlight II: In-depth and realistic agenda setting

This year's forum agenda consists of four plenary sessions, namely Security Cooperation and Asia-Pacific Prosperity and Stability, Multipolarity and the Evolving International Order, Global South and World Peaceful Development, and International Mechanisms and Global Security Governance, and eight special sessions, including ASEAN and Security Architecture of Asia-Pacific, Maintaining Northeast Asian Security, Evolution of European Security, Vision for Peace in the Middle East, The Right Way for China and the United States to Get Along, Emerging Technologies for Good, Future of International Arms Control, and Humanitarian Crises in Armed Conflicts.

According to Wu, these topics reflect the international community's shared concerns in addressing security challenges and the common aspiration of people of all countries to strengthen unity and cooperation. Focusing on the greatest common denominator of global security concerns, this year's forum encourages relevant parties to engage in in-depth exchanges and equal consultations, push all countries to embark on a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum.

Highlight III: Innovative and diverse organizational forms

Apart from the four plenary sessions and eight special sessions, this year's forum also features a range of multi-layered and diverse activities. There are not only High-end Interviews and Leading Experts' Dialogue participated by senior experts and scholars from home and abroad but also youth academic exchanges such as the "SCO+" Young Scholars' Salon and Young Military Officers' and Scholars' Seminar. In addition, exhibitions of major achievements, technological innovation, and defense technology are organized.

According to Wu, the innovative and diverse activities will enhance the variety of topics and improve the focus of discussions. It will foster a richer atmosphere of interaction, deepen the dialogue, reflect mutual learning between China and other countries, and increase the sense of involvement and integration among the participants.

Highlight IV: Embracing a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. At this important historical juncture, this year's forum, under the theme Promoting Peace for a Shared Future, embraces a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security and strives to achieve development and security through cooperation. It will pool wisdom and strength to the effective maintenance of world peace and tranquility, provide the vision guiding the implementation of GSI, and build an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind. It will also guide the international community in enhancing communication, building trust, addressing doubts, brainstorming solutions, exploring a security framework and new path consistent with global development realities, and contributing to tackling international security challenges and achieving lasting world peace.

According to Wu, this year's forum continues to provide a platform for equal dialogue and collective voice for the broad developing countries and small and medium-sized nations. Meanwhile, it has further expanded the participation of developed countries from Europe and the US, as well as emerging major countries, injecting impetus for strengthening South-South cooperation and promoting North-South cooperation.