World Leaders Gather as Forum Marks 20th Anniversary of Xiangshan

The 13th session of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened on Wednesday, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the event’s inception. Defense Minister Tong Chun addressed the gathering, noting that the planet is undergoing rapid, large‑scale changes that have placed the international security system under strain. He referenced President Xi Jinping’s proposal for a "community of shared future for mankind" and highlighted the four major global initiatives as key to shaping the future. Tong urged the creation of a common security consensus, the preservation of stability through multilateralism, and the avoidance of pitfalls by learning from historical experience. He emphasized dialogue, consultation, and shared development as pillars for deepening cooperation and ensuring durable peace and security. The minister also affirmed that the Chinese armed forces are ready to cooperate with militaries worldwide to implement global security measures, strengthen mutual trust, and enhance coordination. The forum’s theme, "Build consensus on stability, jointly promote security governance," attracted official representatives, scholars, experts and observers from more than 100 countries, regions and international organisations, with roughly 2,000 participants in total.