From September 15 to 17, Wu Shicun, Chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance and Chairman of the Academic Committee of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, attended the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing. Under the theme “Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together,” this year’s forum brought together around 2,000 official representatives, experts, scholars and observers from more than 100 countries, regions and international organizations. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attended the welcome dinner and delivered remarks, while Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech.

On September 15, Wu Shicun participated in the “Leading Experts’ Dialogue 20 on 20” and delivered a speech. Taking the Beijing Xiangshan Forum’s evolution over the past two decades into a high-level global platform for defense dialogue as an example, Wu Shicun elaborated on how major dialogue platforms such as international forums can help advance the implementation of the four global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and enhance China’s international influence. He also shared his thoughts on practical pathways for efficiently translating forum outcomes and policy recommendations into decision-making and implementation.

On September 16, Wu Shicun moderated the parallel session on “Sea Lane Security and Maritime Security Governance.” He joined other participants in in-depth discussions and exchanges on challenges facing global maritime security, ways to prevent and manage the spillover of maritime security risks, and lessons from the Strait of Hormuz crisis for safeguarding the security of sea lanes in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the forum, Wu Shicun also actively engaged with participants across a number of sessions. He raised questions with Prince Turki Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Brigadier General Mohammad Taghi Osanlou, Deputy for Operations of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Iran, on issues including the prospects for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and possible pathways toward resolving the crises in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Wu Shicun also exchanged views with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin on issues including proposals for a Eurasian security architecture and the role of NATO.

During the forum, Wu Shicun was also interviewed by more than 20 major Chinese and international media outlets, including CCTV’s Military Channel, Xinhua News Agency, China News Service, Global Times, China Daily, Beijing Daily, Beijing Youth Daily, PLA Daily, The Straits Times, Sansha Satellite TV and the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). He mainly addressed topics including his impressions from attending successive editions of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, sea lane security and maritime governance, Japan’s remilitarization and the situation in the South China Sea, as well as China-Philippines disputes in the South China Sea and crisis management.