From April 21 to 24, the 19th Annual Meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum was held in Qingdao, Shandong. This forum is another grand event hosted by the Chinese Navy for the first time in 10 years, with more than 180 foreign representatives from 29 countries participating in the forum. With the theme of "A Sea with a Shared Future", the Chinese Navy disseminated China's ideas and voiced China's voice through multilateral international forums, which is a vivid diplomatic practice for the Chinese Navy to practice the important concept of a maritime community with a shared future.
19th Annual Meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum. Source: CCTV Network - National Defense Military Channel
The 19th Annual Meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum, hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, came to an end at noon on April 23.
More than 180 foreign representatives from 29 countries attended the annual meeting of the forum, of which 20 countries were the main leaders of the navy (maritime defense department), and the theme of "Ocean with a Common Future" was recognized by the representatives of the participating countries, who said that the navies of all countries should carry out more cooperation and exchanges to jointly respond to maritime risks and maintain maritime security.
The annual meeting of the forum voted to approve the "Rules for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (Version 3.0)" and the update of the "Disaster Response Guidelines", discussed in depth the revision of the "Regulations of the Western Pacific Naval Forum", the establishment of a working group on unmanned systems with China as the coordinator, and shared the experience of some countries in the fields of personnel exchanges, rescue and disaster reduction, joint exercises and joint training under the framework of the forum. During the annual meeting, high-level seminars were also held, and more than 30 meetings were organized.
It is understood that the Western Pacific Naval Forum is a regional naval cooperation mechanism platform, and after more than 30 years of development, it has become an influential institutional naval forum in the Western Pacific region, with 23 member states and 7 observer states. As a founding member of the Forum, China has always adhered to the principles of inclusiveness, equality and cooperation, participated constructively in the affairs of the Forum, and hosted the 14th Annual Conference of the Forum in 2014. This forum is another grand event hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy after 10 years. The next annual meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum will be hosted by the French Navy in 2026.
The theme of "Ocean with a Common Destiny" spreads the Chinese concept
On April 23, 2019, President Xi Jinping pointed out at a group meeting with the heads of foreign delegations invited to attend the multinational naval activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy: "The blue planet where we live is not divided into islands by the ocean, but connected by the ocean to form a community of destiny, and the people of all countries share safety and danger. ”
On April 22, 2024, Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. Source: CCTV Network - National Defense Military Channel
Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 19th Annual Conference of the Western Pacific Naval Forum that five years ago, President Xi Jinping put forward the important concept of building a maritime community with a shared future in Qingdao, providing strategic guidance and China's plan for building a peaceful, prosperous and beautiful ocean. Holding high the banner of win-win cooperation, the Chinese armed forces practice the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, deepen exchanges and exchanges with the navies of other countries, actively participate in international maritime security cooperation, and take the initiative to provide maritime public security products, making important contributions to the development of maritime undertakings and common prosperity.
Zhang Youxia took a group photo with the heads of naval delegations of various countries attending the annual meeting of the forum. Source: CCTV Network - National Defense Military Channel
Zhang Youxia said that in today's world, which is undergoing changes in a century and the world is still not at peace, we should resolutely abandon the Cold War mentality, work together to create peace and tranquility, bridge differences through dialogue and consultation, jointly build governance rules, and promote maritime security governance to a new level with pragmatic results. China will continue to uphold the important concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, devote itself to international military cooperation in a more active and open manner, and write a new chapter in promoting world peace and development.
After 10 years, the annual meeting of the forum returned to Qingdao
Source: CCTV Network - National Defense Military Channel
In 2014, the Chinese Navy hosted the 14th Annual Conference of the Forum in Qingdao for the first time, and promoted a series of achievements in the Forum, including the adoption of the Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea and the approval of Pakistan as an observer state of the Forum, which were highly praised by the representatives of the navies of the participating countries. In the blink of an eye for 10 years, the annual meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum returned to Qingdao.
Over the past 10 years, the Chinese Navy has actively participated in ocean-going escort and humanitarian rescue, sailing all over the world and spreading friendship in all directions, winning wide acclaim at home and abroad, and making important contributions to building a maritime community with a shared future and safeguarding world peace and stability. After a lapse of 10 years, the Chinese Navy once again hosted the annual meeting of the forum, explaining the responsibility of a major country with practical actions, and the world will have a more comprehensive, in-depth and objective understanding of China and the Chinese Navy through this platform, and the Chinese Navy is also appearing in front of the world with a more confident and open attitude.
It is understood that the scale and specifications of the delegations participating in this time are very high. The navies (maritime defense departments) of 29 countries, including Australia, Cambodia, Chile, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the United States, Pakistan and the United Kingdom, sent delegations to participate in the annual meeting of the forum, of which 20 countries were the main leaders of the navy (maritime defense department) attended the meeting, which not only showed the vitality and vitality of the forum, but also fully reflected the influence and appeal of the Chinese navy.
The Chinese Navy put forward four initiatives at the seminar
Source: CCTV Network - National Defense Military Channel
At the high-level seminar of the 19th annual meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum held on the morning of the 23rd, Admiral Hu Zhongming, commander of the Chinese Navy, will make a keynote speech on the topic of "Helping each other in the same boat, moving forward hand in hand, and jointly building and protecting the ocean with a shared destiny", and put forward four proposals: First, close communication and exchanges to consolidate the foundation of mutual trust. The second is to improve the quality and efficiency of cooperation and promote common development. The third is to strengthen operational coordination to protect maritime security. Fourth, expand public goods and enhance the well-being of the ocean.
Hu Zhongming reviewed the practical measures taken by the Chinese Navy to practice the concept of building a maritime community with a shared future in the past five years, and used the English word "SHIP" to explain the "ocean with a shared future". He said that the first thing to share a common destiny is security, the essence of a shared destiny is harmony, the key to a shared destiny is inclusiveness, and the basis of a shared destiny is Partner.
Hu Zhongming said that the maritime forces of all countries bear important responsibilities for maintaining maritime peace and tranquility and good order. He called on the navies of all countries to engage in dialogue rather than confrontation, to engage in exchanges rather than to engage in hostility, to build foundations rather than walls, and to add bricks rather than chaos. Hu Zhongming said that building a maritime community with a shared future calls for the navies of all countries to share responsibilities and cooperate pragmatically. The Chinese Navy is ready to work with the navies of other countries to set the course and move forward bravely and resolutely, so that the giant ship of maritime peace and development will sail steadily and farther towards a bright future with a shared destiny.
Improve international rules and maintain regional maritime security
Delegates from various countries attended the annual meeting of the Forum. Xinhua News Agency
In recent years, China has taken a more proactive stance in participating in the formulation and improvement of international rules, contributing to the building of a more just and reasonable international maritime order. At the annual meeting of the forum, the "Regulations for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (Version 3.0)" and the update of the "Disaster Response Guidelines" were voted and approved, and the revision of the "Statutes of the Western Pacific Naval Forum" was studied and discussed. For the first time, the annual meeting proposed the establishment of a working group on the research of unmanned systems at the Western Pacific Naval Forum, with China as the coordinating country, and the participants discussed the safety rules of unmanned systems.
In 2014, the Chinese Navy led the successful implementation of the Rules for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, which provides reliable security measures and means for the unexpected encounters between naval vessels and aircraft of various countries. Since the adoption of the Rules, the Chinese Navy has been conducting long-term research on relevant issues, and has continuously promoted the revision and improvement of the Rules in light of the new situations and problems that have emerged in reality. In response to the "Rules for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (Version 3.0)" voted at the annual meeting of the forum, Oscar Oliva, director of the Peruvian Naval Health Bureau, said that it is very common for ships and aircraft of various countries to meet at sea, and how to ensure safety and avoid miscalculation, it is very necessary and important to negotiate and adopt a set of behavioral norms recognized by all parties, and all member states are consciously abiding by the code to maintain regional maritime security.
"China's hosting of the annual meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Forum has demonstrated its image as a responsible major country. In the view of Pradeep Rasnayak, Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Navy, the issues discussed at the annual meeting are of great practical significance, such as the update of the Disaster Response Guide and unmanned systems. China's proposal to create a safe marine environment can promote ties between continents, enhance friendship among countries, and avoid future conflicts.
The Chinese Navy has become an important provider of international public security products
The hospital ship "Peace Ark" of the Chinese Navy. Xinhua News Agency
In 1988, China, as one of the 12 founding members of the Forum, participated in the first Western Pacific Naval Forum held in Sydney, Australia. Over the past 30 years, the Chinese Navy has vigorously supported the construction of the Western Pacific Naval Forum, participated in various activities under the framework of the Forum, and continuously deepened cooperation and friendship with the Forum countries.
At the beginning of the forum, there was almost no shadow of the Chinese Navy on the world's oceans; Now the trajectory of the Chinese Navy has spread all over the world. The Chinese Navy has carried out escort missions in the Gulf of Aden for 16 consecutive years, and the promise of "the Chinese Navy will escort you" has become the trusted voice of past merchant ships. The Peace Ark hospital ship has gone abroad 11 times, providing medical services to 290,000 people in 45 countries and regions. The freshwater crisis in the Maldives and the volcanic eruption in Tonga, the Chinese Navy sent aid materials as soon as possible. The multi-level and multi-style joint exercises and training have effectively improved the joint operation capability of the navies of various countries and strengthened the backbone of maintaining regional peace and stability......
Since the beginning of the new era, the Chinese Navy has thoroughly implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, strengthened exchanges and cooperation with the navies of other countries, actively fulfilled its international responsibilities and obligations, ensured the safety of international waterways, and strived to provide more maritime public safety products. The Western Pacific Naval Forum is not only a stage for all parties to express their respective views, but also a platform for all parties to reach consensus and promote practical cooperation on the premise of "unanimous agreement". The Chinese Navy is willing to work with other countries to work for maritime peace, protect maritime tranquility, and contribute to maritime prosperity, and jointly be a strong advocate, strong practitioner and joint promoter of a maritime community with a shared future.
Comprehensively compiled from: Xinhua News Agency, CCTV Network-Military Channel, China Military Network-People's Liberation Army Daily, etc