Beijing forum discusses counter-terrorism challenges posed by intelligent technologies

BEIJING -- The Great Wall-2026 International Forum on Counter-Terrorism concluded in Beijing on Thursday, with more than 320 experts and frontline personnel from 62 countries and international organizations discussing counter-terrorism challenges, including those arising from advances in unmanned and intelligent technologies.

During the three-day forum, participants discussed the terrorism situation, explored solutions to common challenges, exchanged practical experience and explored avenues for international cooperation.

Participants noted that the rapid development of unmanned and intelligent technologies has made terrorist activities increasingly covert and destructive, as new methods are adopted to carry out acts of terrorism and violence.

They said traditional approaches that rely on individual countries acting alone and isolated prevention and control measures are increasingly inadequate to address emerging terrorist threats that are transnational, covert and enabled by intelligent technologies.

The participants said combating terrorism requires countries to keep pace with advances in unmanned and intelligent technologies, strengthen their counter-terrorism capabilities, and work together to establish and improve international cooperation mechanisms for preventing and combating terrorism.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Great Wall forum. Since its launch in 2016, the Chinese People's Armed Police Force has hosted six editions of the forum.

This year's event focused on changing circumstances, evolving adversaries and technological advances, and examined the impact of artificial intelligence on efforts to prevent and combat terrorism.

Discussions were organized into high-level, professional and thematic forums, creating a comprehensive, multilevel dialogue platform spanning the strategic, operational and tactical levels.

An important participant in and contributor to the global fight against terrorism, China has engaged in pragmatic cooperation with other countries in terms of intelligence exchanges, border control, case investigations and counter-terrorism financing.

It has also organized training sessions and seminars to share its experience with the international community and help strengthen counter-terrorism capabilities.