Xiangshan Forum reaches consensus on maritime security

The seventh Xiangshan Forum concluded in Beijing on Wednesday, with attendees from 59 countries and five international organizations reaching consensus on maritime security, among other issues.

About 500 defense officials and scholars gathered to discuss global security cooperation at the forum. Cai Yingting, president of the PLA Academy of Military Science, said consensus had been reached on five aspects, when delivering his concluding speech.

Maritime disputes should be handled by directly involved parties through consultations and negotiations in line with the UN Charter and the international law and with respect to historical facts, according to the consensus reached at the forum.

Maritime activities should be more regulated and crisis control boosted under a regional multilateral security framework.

Cooperation in navigation escort missions, humanitarian assistance, pirate crackdowns and maritime anti-terror operations will be enhanced to safeguard harmonious and stable maritime order in the Asia-Pacific area, according to the consensus reached at the forum.

Attendees agreed to heighten coordination on various security mechanisms and to build a model of security governance characteristic of the Asia-Pacific region through the Asian approach that values mutual respect, seeking consensus through consultations and taking care of the degree of comfort of all sides.

Participants also agreed to prevent and fight all forms of terrorism, avoiding politicizing the matter or applying "double standards."

The consensus reached by the forum also covered global governance and building a new type of international relations featuring cooperation and and mutually beneficial arrangements.

The forum was launched by a Chinese academic association in 2006 and has been held every two years since 2006. Since 2015, China has invited more foreign defense officials and scholars to the forum and upgraded it to an annual event. Endi