Global security and development cannot be ensured without cooperation and mutual respect, participants at the 13th World Peace Forum in Beijing agreed. They condemned trade wars, hegemony, and the United States' inability to adapt to a new reality.

During the three-day World Peace Forum in Beijing, which took place from Wednesday to Friday, leading Chinese and foreign officials discussed ways to share responsibility for maintaining world peace and promoting globalization for the benefit of all.

Former Chinese ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, warned against a "zero-sum" approach in international politics. He argued that a strategy where countries secure their own security at the expense of others only leads to a stalemate and unsolvable conflicts.

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, noted during a luncheon that the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II is a timely moment for reflection: "Eighty years ago, the world hoped for lasting peace. Today, we face a resurgence of traditional security threats. We must re-evaluate how to build a long-term and effective global security architecture."

Herman Van Rompuy, former President of the European Council and Belgian Prime Minister, warned against trade wars, particularly tariffs, arguing that they benefit no one and undermine trust between countries. "There are no winners in a trade war," he stated.

Liu emphasized the principle of mutual benefit as the foundation of international relations: "It's not about one side winning and the other losing. Competition is not about leaving others behind, but about strengthening oneself."

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, a known advocate for friendship with China, called for East Asian diplomacy to be independent of the United States. "America has changed, and it will not return to its former role," he said. He stressed the need for trilateral cooperation between China, Japan, and South Korea.

At the same time, he urged Japan to more honestly confront its wartime past and reflect on its actions during its period of aggressive expansion.

The forum, with the theme "Promoting Global Peace and Prosperity: Shared Responsibility, Mutual Benefit, and Success," was co-hosted by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Institute of Foreign Affairs.

CMG