China hosts Great Wall-2026 International Forum on Counter-Terrorism

More than 320 delegates from 62 countries and international organizations gathered in Beijing on Tuesday for the opening of the Great Wall-2026 International Forum on Counter-Terrorism, seeking to strengthen international cooperation.

Hosted by the Chinese People's Armed Police Force (PAP), the three-day forum runs from October 13 to 15 under the theme "Advancing Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Jointly Safeguarding Our Beautiful Home." Lieutenant General Zhao Dongfang, chief of staff of the PAP, delivered the keynote address, calling for stronger international cooperation to address evolving terrorist threats.

Focusing on the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, Zhao proposed four measures to advance practical counterterrorism cooperation: upholding multilateralism to build consensus, promoting exchanges and mutual learning to strengthen operational capabilities, leveraging digital and intelligent technologies to address emerging threats, and tackling the root causes of terrorism through comprehensive measures.

The forum features four main topics: emerging terrorist threats and counterterrorism capabilities involving unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, preventing and combating maritime terrorism, protecting key targets against terrorist attacks, and countering terrorist infiltration in border areas.

Participants will observe counterterrorism training and unmanned equipment demonstrations, and attend a military band concert on the sidelines of the forum.

Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said the forum would help deepen friendship and trust between the PAP and its foreign counterparts, strengthen bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism cooperation and contribute to regional peace and stability.

The forum is part of China's efforts to expand international exchanges and practical cooperation in counterterrorism.

Since 2016, the PAP has held five previous editions of the Great Wall International Forum. (Shen Hui also contributed to this story.)