More than 400 representatives from 64 countries are gathering in Beijing for the seventh Xiangshan Forum. This year’s theme is building and developing a new type of international relations through security dialogue and cooperation.

The three-day event will begin on Tuesday. They will hold discussions on four major topics: the role of military in global governance, responding to new security challenges in the Asia-Pacific through cooperation, maritime security cooperation, and international terrorism threats and countermeasures.

The regional security forum had been held every two years since 2006. But from 2014, it has been held annually.