China used its annual Xiangshan security forum to call for closer international cooperation on security issues, as Defence Minister Dong Jun held a series of meetings with foreign defence officials in Beijing.
Dong met counterparts and senior officials from Myanmar, Brunei, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, along with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, during the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. The gathering brought representatives from nearly 100 countries, regions and international organisations to the Chinese capital.
Dong said China’s military was ready to work with other countries to address common security challenges. He stressed dialogue, mutual trust and practical cooperation as important means of preserving peace and stability.
The forum was held under the theme “Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together”. Beijing regards the event as an important channel for defence diplomacy and international discussions on security.
China’s position is that security challenges have become increasingly interconnected and cannot be addressed through military competition alone. Its agenda includes conventional conflicts as well as terrorism, cyber threats and other non-traditional security risks.
Dong also linked China’s approach to its concept of a “community with a shared future for humanity” and the Global Security Initiative, through which Beijing advocates dialogue and cooperation in dealing with international disputes.
The Xiangshan Forum, established in 2006, has expanded over time from a regional military dialogue into a broader gathering involving defence officials, government representatives, international organisations and security experts.
Chinese authorities describe the forum as an international platform based on equality, openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning. It provides Beijing with a setting to discuss security issues with countries that do not necessarily share the same strategic interests or belong to the same military groupings.
The defence minister’s meetings during this year’s forum also demonstrated the geographic reach of China’s military diplomacy. Engagement with Myanmar and Brunei, together with the ASEAN secretary-general, reflected Beijing’s continued attention to Southeast Asian security relations. Contacts with Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia extended that engagement into Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe.
Defence exchanges are one part of China’s broader effort to maintain military contacts with foreign governments and armed forces. Such meetings allow officials to discuss security concerns directly while providing opportunities for Beijing to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships.
The broader environment remains difficult for efforts to establish common security positions. Countries continue to differ over strategic interests, territorial disputes, military modernisation and competing regional influence.
China’s growing defence diplomacy is also viewed differently by participating states. Some countries regard military engagement and dialogue as useful channels for managing differences, while others examine Beijing’s expanding defence relationships in the context of wider geopolitical competition.
Those differences limit the extent to which forums such as Xiangshan can translate political dialogue into concrete cooperation. The forum can provide a venue for communication, but participating governments retain differing priorities and assessments of regional security.
For Beijing, the gathering provides both a diplomatic forum and an opportunity to promote its approach to international security governance. The presence of officials from a wide range of countries gives China a platform to advance its emphasis on dialogue, cooperation and collective responses to security challenges.
The 13th Xiangshan Forum consequently combined multilateral discussions with a series of bilateral defence engagements, reflecting China’s broader effort to expand military diplomacy and increase its participation in international security affairs.
