Delegates from over 60 countries gathered in Beijing this week to discuss enhanced international cooperation against evolving terrorist threats at the Great Wall-2026 International Forum on Counter-Terrorism. Organized by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force, the three-day event, held from Tuesday to Thursday, brought together more than 320 representatives from 62 nations and international organizations.
Lieutenant General Zhao Dongfang, chief of the general staff of the People’s Armed Police Force, emphasized that terrorism remains a persistent and growing challenge, characterized by increasing concealment, fragmentation, and networked activity. He stressed that counterterrorism is a shared global responsibility and called for stronger multilateral coordination, improved information exchanges, and the use of digital intelligence technologies to address emerging threats. Zhao also highlighted the importance of combining immediate measures with long-term strategies to address the root causes of terrorism.
The forum participants identified technological advances—particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—as posing new challenges to traditional counterterrorism efforts. Lieutenant General Anzor Chubinidze, head of Georgia’s Special State Protection Service, pointed out the expanding concept of security to encompass cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, urging greater international collaboration in these areas. Colonel General Bakhodir Tashmatov, commander of Uzbekistan’s National Guard, noted that technological developments such as social media and AI have created new avenues for terrorist groups. He advocated for not only enhanced information sharing among countries but also the establishment of regular operational mechanisms and the exchange of both theoretical and practical counterterrorism knowledge.
Peng Jijun, secretary-general of the forum’s organizing committee, described terrorism in the AI era as possessing global reach and systemic, interconnected risks. He underscored disparities in nations’ AI-based counterterrorism capabilities, citing the need for greater technological assistance, the development of identification standards tailored to AI threats, cross-border intelligence sharing frameworks, online risk monitoring, and coordinated responses to incidents.
Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy, remarked on China’s potential to contribute to tackling UAV- and AI-related terrorism challenges. He noted China’s relative domestic safety but acknowledged the challenge of protecting its overseas interests and conducting effective counterterrorism operations abroad.
According to Lieutenant General Zhao, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force has established cooperation with counterparts in over 100 countries, engaging in joint exercises, professional exchanges, skills competitions, and counterterrorism forums. These activities have strengthened China’s role in international counterterrorism efforts and fostered greater global collaboration.