Beijing (TDI): China has kickstarted its annual Beijing Xiangshan Forum today, bringing together international military, diplomatic, academic, and strategic communities amid heightened global tensions.
With the theme “Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development”, this year’s edition aims to reaffirm post‑World War II multilateral principles, to focus on how nations can work together to address conflict and instability.
Approximately 1,800 delegates, observers and media from over 100 countries, regions, and international organizations have registered for the Forum, which will run till September 19, Friday.
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!
The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum starts today – bringing diverse voices together for peace and cooperation.
Follow along for live updates!@China_Navy @ChinaMilBugle @StudyinNDUChina @XHNews @CCTV @Echinanews @CGTNOfficial @Frontlinestory @ChinaDaily… pic.twitter.com/V2tzdPOfAK
— Beijing Xiangshan Forum (@XiangshanForum) September 17, 2025
More than the formal proceedings and standard outcomes, security analysts are focusing more on posturing, especially with regards to China’s closest allies, and indirect messages these will carry for the broader geopolitics.
Notable among the attendees are defense ministers, chiefs of staff, senior political and military figures, former foreign ministers, and prominent scholars from around the world, particularly countries that align more with China’s vision of the world.
The forum’s agenda includes four plenary sessions and eight parallel breakout sessions, complemented by side‑events such as high‑level dialogues, seminars for young military officers and scholars, closed academic seminars, exhibitions, and site visits.
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The primary focus is on reinforcing the legitimacy of the existing international order, especially in light of growing geopolitical friction and regional conflicts.
Some themes that will prop up during the conflict include protecting the post‑war international order, Asia‑Pacific security dynamics, diplomatic resolution of regional conflicts, emerging technologies and governance of new warfare modalities.
China’s contributions in peacekeeping, its navy’s humanitarian medical missions, and its involvement in UN peacekeeping operations will also be spotlighted via special briefings.
The forum comes at a volatile moment, with the ongoing Russia‑Ukraine war and an ever-unstable Middle Eastern region forming up the background.
China continues to position itself as a defender of a rules‑based order; major glimpses of which were evident during the SCO Summit that it hosted in Tianjin on September 1st. A day later, in the September 3 Grand Parade, China displayed its latest weaponry in a show of power.
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