(ECNS）-- Experts and officials from more than100 countries have widely acknowledged the pivotal role of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which officially opened in Beijing on Wednesday.
In an interview with China News Network, Li Shuyin, director of the Secretariat Office of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, noted that the forum provides an equal platform for all participating nations, regardless of their size, strength or economic status.
Over the past two decades, it has been committed to bridging differences through communication and advancing international cooperation via inclusive dialogue, she added.
“This consistent philosophy has steadily strengthened the forum’s influence, appeal and consensus-building capacity for global stability,” Li said.
She pointed out that since its launch in 2006, the forum has adhered to the principles of equality, openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning, and has grown into a major platform for global security dialogue.
Jean Christophe Baron von Pfetten, chairman of the Royal Institute for East West Strategic Studies in the UK, quoted Confucius’ maxim of “seeking harmony without uniformity” to praise the forum, saying that “China is truly an engine for world peace.”
“The forum is trying to make people have better dialogue together to find a solution. This is what we need. China is the only country to do that,” he added.
“With this platform, we can always promote that multilateralism so that we can bring every dispute, every problem to the table and into the dialogue, where we can fully manage differences and also manage the common interest,” said Shaftdean Lufty, senior director comprehensive security of the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security.
As a first-time attendee of the forum, Rabb Majumder, editor and publisher of The Security in Bangladesh said he believed it would play a very vital role in resolving major global issues, because he thought that this forum would provide a platform or all peace-loving people.
During the forum, international representatives also hailed China’s role in global governance.
“Unilateral tariffs, use of force outside international law -- we witness this every single day. The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) brings us some kind of alternative narrative and an alternative approach to seeing the world,” said Carlos Branco, former director of cooperation and regional security at NATO International Military Staff.
“If we analyze the five factors of the GGI, three of them are basically the fundamentals of the United Nations charter: sovereignty, international rule of law, and multilateralism,” he said, adding that countries need to adhere to these basic principles if humanity wants to move forward avoid global confrontation, and prevent conflicts between major powers.
Ahmed Al-Garni, vice president of Rasanah International Institute for Iranian Studies as well as former strategic advisor to the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said China has long upheld solving issues through dialogue and consultation, and the communication channels it has built are irreplaceable.
Marking its 20th anniversary, the forum strives to build an equal, inclusive and diverse platform for constructive dialogue, helping all participants consolidate consensus, enhance mutual trust and pool wisdom to tackle global security and development challenges.
Themed "Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together," the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday, has brought together about 2,000 official representatives, scholars, experts and observers from almost 100 countries, regions and international organizations.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
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