The Beijing Xiangshan Forum Navigator Meeting kicked off in Beijing on Tuesday morning, bringing together over 200 defense officials, experts, scholars and media representatives from more than 30 countries and international organizations to discuss global security issues in preparation for the main forum later this year.
This Navigator Meeting, a crucial step in the forum's development, serves as a precursor to the main Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which is scheduled for the fall.
Since its inception in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has successfully hosted eleven editions and has become a prominent international defense and security forum. To further optimize the planning and design of the forum's serial activities and create more opportunities for exchange and cooperation, this year, for the first time ever, a navigator conference was held before the opening of the main forum, combining defense exchange and academic dialogue.
"Firstly, this conference is intended to make preparations for the main forum by collecting opinions and suggestions from participants to focus on their positions and security concerns. Secondly, the event is intended to provide more dialogue and exchange opportunities on international security. And thirdly, it is designed to strengthen practical cooperation among defense departments of various countries by exploring potential cooperation and implementing existing plans, to provide important input for pushing the forum to achieve more practical cooperation results," said Wu Jianguo, director of the Office of the Secretariat of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
In the coming two days, the event will convene four roundtable discussions on the Trend of Defense and Military Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, the Trend of Great Power Relations after the Super Election Year, the Role of BRICS in Global Security Governance, as well as the Role of the U.N. in Resolving Global and Regional Hotspot Security Issues. These in-depth discussions aim to contribute insights to building a more just and reasonable international order.
Beijing Xiangshan Forum Navigator Meeting opens to chart course for global security
Israel launched a preemptive strike on Iran early Friday, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, senior military leaders and research scientists in a major escalation against Tehran.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a statement that its jets have completed the first-stage attack, notably strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address that the goal of the ongoing operation is "to strike Iran's nuclear infrastructure, Iran's ballistic missile factories, and Iran's military capabilities," and will continue "for as many days as it takes."
Chief Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Hossein Salami and Deputy Army Commander Gholam-Ali Rashid were martyred as a result of the airstrikes, the official news agency IRNA reported.
The Israeli airstrikes also killed two Iranian nuclear scientists, identified as Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi, the report said. However, the Iranian side has denied reports that Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri was killed in the Israeli airstrikes, according to IRNA. A spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces said that Israel, with the support of the United States, launched attacks on many places in Iran, including residential areas, and will pay a "heavy price" for this, and await strong response from the Iranian armed forces.
Explosions were reported in Tehran and counties of Natanz, Khondab and Khorramabad, the Iranian state TV reported, adding that multiple casualties, including women and children, were reported in a residential building in Tehran.
Both Israel and Iran closed their airspace following the attack. Israel has declared a nationwide state of emergency.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied any U.S. assistance or involvement in the "unilateral" attack, adding that Israel had told Washington that it believed the strikes were necessary for its self-defense.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of a possible "massive conflict" in the Middle East, saying that "I don't want them going in" as a new round of Oman-mediated negotiations between the United States and Iran will be held in Muscat Sunday.
"I want to have an agreement with Iran. We're fairly close to an agreement ... As long as I think there is an agreement, I don't want them going in because that would blow it," he told reporters in the White House.
Israel launches preemptive strike on Iran, killing military leaders
